Molly Russell's Father Calls Government's Social Media Ban Plans 'Deplorable'

The father of a teenager who died by suicide after viewing harmful online content has voiced strong criticism of the UK government's reported plans to restrict young people's access to social media. Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly died in 2017, called the potential ban "deplorable."

Russell told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that he believes the government, and potentially opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, are rushing the announcement for political reasons. "If he's playing politics, what he's doing is gambling with young people's lives, and I find that deplorable," Russell stated. He expressed disappointment, suggesting that promises made to bereaved parents about effective solutions had not been kept.

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I can't think of a reason other than a political reason... If he's playing politics, what he's doing is gambling with young people's lives, and I find that deplorable.

A Downing Street spokesperson responded by stating the government has conducted a thorough consultation and will announce next steps in due course. The spokesperson emphasized that the Prime Minister is committed to protecting children and that the proposed actions are not political but are about safeguarding young users. The government is reportedly considering various options, including a complete ban for under-16s on some platforms, similar to measures implemented in Australia.

Russell's comments come as new research from his organization, the Molly Rose Foundation, highlights the persistent problem of harmful content online. The survey suggests that 47% of girls and a third of all teenagers aged 13-17 encountered high-risk content related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders within a week. These figures indicate that the Online Safety Act, passed in 2023 to regulate social media companies and protect children, may not be sufficiently effective in its current implementation and enforcement by regulator Ofcom.

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The prime minister has been clear that the status quo is not good enough and we need to do more to protect children. This is not about politics - it is about protecting children.