Thirty families have accused technology giants of abetting their children\u2019s suicides in the wake of the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell, as the health secretary told social media sites to take responsibility for their effect on young lives.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Sunday Times<\/a>, Molly\u2019s father, Ian, criticised the online scrapbook site Pinterest, as well as Instagram, for hosting disturbing content that he believes played a part in his daughter\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more I looked [into Molly\u2019s online accounts], the more there was that chill horror that I was getting a glimpse into something that had such profound effects on my lovely daughter,\u201d he said. \u201cPinterest has a huge amount to answer for.\u201d<\/p>\n Papyrus, a charity that works to prevent youth suicides, said it had been contacted by 30 families in the past week. Parents said they suspected social media had played a part in their children\u2019s suicides.<\/span><\/p>\n A Sunday Times investigation found numerous graphic images of self-harm on Pinterest <\/a>that could be viewed by children as young as 13.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a> (subscription needed).<\/p>\n Awful. Can\u2019t even imagine what is must be like being a teenager today bombarded with social media and impossible standards<\/p>\n Revealed: how Big Tech pushes teens to suicidehttps:\/\/t.co\/RNo10XC41C<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Joumanna Bercetche (@CNBCJou) January 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n