Warning: this piece contains references to self-harm, a young person taking their own life, and child abuse online.
The inquest findings into the death of Molly Russell released today, told she took her own life while suffering from depression and had interacted with harmful social media content.
Unsafe online content contributed "in a more than minimal way" to the death of a girl who took her own life, an inquest has found.
Senior coroner, Andrew Walker said material viewed by 14-year-old Molly Russell on social media "shouldn't have been available for a child to see".
Mr Walker told North London Coroner's Court: "She died from an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content."
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said, "Tech companies must expect to be held to account when they put the safety of children second to commercial decisions. The magnitude of this moment for children everywhere cannot be understated."
Last year (2020/21) Childline delivered more than 73,000 counselling sessions about mental health, and in the same period there were 24,200 counselling sessions about suicidal thoughts or feelings.
Everyone has an important part to play in keeping children safe, and it's vital that tech companies are held accountable for children's online safety on their platforms.
