Angus Crawford and Tony Smith from BBC News Investigations reported that Instagram’s owner Meta and Pinterest have made noteworthy contributions to a charity established in memory of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who tragically took her own life in 2017 after being exposed to harmful content on both social media platforms. Molly’s parents decided not to pursue legal action against the tech giants and have expressed their intention to never accept compensation for Molly’s loss, choosing instead to work towards promoting internet safety through the Molly Rose Foundation.
The foundation, named after Molly’s middle name, has received undisclosed grants from anonymous donors, with speculations pointing towards Meta and Pinterest as the benefactors. These donations began in 2024 and are expected to continue over the years, aiming to support the charity’s initiatives in educating young people about navigating the online world safely. The Russell family, represented by their solicitor, reiterated their commitment to collaborating with Meta and Pinterest through the foundation to create a positive digital experience for youth.
Despite the undisclosed nature of the donations, the Molly Rose Foundation has made strides in recruiting key personnel to drive its mission of advocating for online safety, bolstered by the passionate efforts of Molly’s father, Ian Russell, who has been an instrumental figure in raising awareness about the risks associated with unregulated social media. The foundation’s call to action includes lobbying for stronger legislation within the Online Safety Act, urging technology companies to take greater responsibility for curating content aimed at impressionable young individuals.
Ian Russell, an unpaid trustee of the foundation, continues to be a vocal advocate for online safety, penning letters to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and highlighting the lacunae in current online safety measures. He has criticized Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, for what he perceives as a shift towards prioritizing profit over safeguarding users. The foundation’s efforts have garnered support from legal experts like Matthew Bergman, who lauded Ian Russell’s relentless dedication to holding social media companies accountable
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