UK: New Molly Russell documentary provides further evidence that social media needs complete redesign
Responding to the launch of Molly vs The Machines, a documentary about Molly Russell, a 14-year-old British girl who died by suicide in 2017 after she viewed harmful online content while struggling with depression, Hannah Storey, Amnesty International’s Head of Children and Young People’s Digital Rights, said:
“Molly is remembered by her family and friends for her kindness. She deserved protection from algorithms that fed her negative content. Social media companies have a responsibility to prevent Molly’s tragedy from happening again.
“The documentary shows not only the profound harm young people can face on social media, but also the deeply problematic business model driving these platforms. Amnesty International has been raising the alarm about this for years, including in our TikTok research, which exposed how TikTok’s design can amplify depressive and suicidal content, putting already vulnerable young users at even greater risk.
“Given the severity of the harms, we understand why some are proposing to ban teenagers from these platforms, but bans are a blunt tool. They fail to reflect the complex reality of children’s needs online, and they risk excluding children because companies have failed to fix designs that profit from capturing their attention.
Hannah Storey, Amnesty International’s Head of Children and Young People’s Digital Rights
“It’s vital we hold these companies to account for the harm they cause and demand a fundamental overhaul to the way these platforms operate.
“Governments need to move beyond debating bans and instead follow due process to put in place robust, well‑enforced legislation that genuinely safeguards young people. That must include measures to tackle addictive design and ensure platforms are built with children’s rights at their core.”
Background
The Molly vs The Machines documentary examines the circumstances surrounding Molly Russell’s death in November 2017 and the role harmful online content played in her depression. It can be watched on Channel 4 in the UK on 5 March 2026 at 9pm GMT. The documentary’s release comes as the UK government launches a public consultation on children’s safety online.
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