Such a sad read - Molly Russell and her secret Twitter account (Trigger warnings)

[cakeorwine]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62892636

I am sure people know the story of Molly Russell who sadly took her own life aged 14

She had a secret Twiiter account. You can see her tweets and retweets. Reaching out to celebrities who wouldn't have seen the messages. Her thoughts.

I know people who have posted similar. People who are trying to say how they feel but who somehow aren't able to speak to the people who can listen and support.

I know the same in my life when I kept my thoughts to myself and didn't have anyone to tell. I did use social media and even on here - but people on here are strangers.

I just want to post this. And to hope that people can find someone to listen to them.

I've been thinking about Molly all day. I felt similar as a teenager, 20+ years ago, but without social media didn't have access to any of the worrying material she did. I think her dad is doing an amazing job arguing more more regulation and I hope he gets the change he wants.

I hadn't heard of this. What a sad read that was. Social media has a lot to answer for.

And I too hate those "artistic" pictures that people share online that make suicide/self harm look beautiful.

I’ve felt so heavy all day thinking about her and her family. My DS is 11 and I’m absolutely terrified of what he will be exposed to. I shed tears listening about her case today. Her father is a great man holding the tech firms to account. Maybe he will save the lives of others. Let’s see how the fuckers squirm out of explaining the algos.

Heartbroken 💔 reading that. Oh Molly, you were so much more x

My heart goes out to Molly Russell's family and I am so sad to read this.

My DDs (aged 22 and 16) tell that they know many of their friends who have had dark thoughts and that they have been exposed to the same sort of influence with social media.

Tech firms have a lot to answer for and to be made accountable for. There are not enough controls to keep young impressionable children safe.

My heart goes out to her family

I was the same at her age and I think if social media had been big back then I probably would have gone through with it. All I had was the alt.suicide

Really recommend looking in Ripple Suicide Preventions tech tool. Its a charity i have links to. www.ripplesuicideprevention.com/ its going some way to tackle this already, install on home devices

I agree that tech firms need to be held responsible, but I also think that as parents we have a responsibility to keep children safe online.

Once you give your child a phone and unlimited internet access, you have no idea about what they're looking at/who they're talking to.

I feel so much for this poor young girl and her family.

The SM platforms need taking to task and in a BIG way. Those algorithms that automatically push the material she was looking at without so much as a care is disgusting.

Yes you Instagram and Pinterest.

Hang your heads in shame!!

I've deleted my account on IG in protest and so should others.

It's desperately sad. Thinking of molly and her family.

Absolutely this.