Ian Russell, the father of Molly Russell, who tragically took her own life in November 2017 after being exposed to harmful online content, has been honoured with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours list. Ian Russell, aged 60, has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to child safety online. He achieved this recognition by establishing the Molly Rose Foundation, a suicide prevention charity dedicated to his daughter’s memory, and by actively contributing to the establishment of the Online Safety Bill.
Molly Russell, a 14-year-old from Harrow, North West London, passed away from an act of self-harm while struggling with depression and the adverse effects of online content. A coroner’s inquest last September highlighted the negative impact of online content, especially on social media platforms, in Molly’s tragic case.
The inquest revealed that some of the content Molly encountered was “particularly graphic” and had a detrimental impact on her mental health. It raised questions about whether algorithms used by social media companies, designed to keep users engaged, played a role in her death.
Ian Russell passionately stated during the trial, “I believe social media helped kill my daughter.” His dedication to addressing this issue and preventing similar tragedies has now been officially acknowledged by the MBE.
In response to the honour, Mr Russell expressed that the recognition was not just for him but for the entire team behind the Molly Rose Foundation and all those working to make the online world safer. He believes that by accepting this honour and continuing to raise awareness, they can contribute to reducing cases like Molly’s in the future.
The Molly Rose Foundation recently released a report highlighting significant failings in social media platforms’ handling of self-harm and suicide content, specifically on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. The foundation has been actively providing support, training, and resources to schools and organizations involved with children, aiming to create a network of support centres across the UK’s high streets.
Mr. Russell emphasized the importance of discussing online safety, mental health, and suicide prevention, encouraging open conversations as the key to addressing these critical issues.
For individuals facing mental health challenges or in need of someone to talk to, the Samaritans can be reached 24/7 at 116 123 or online here.
