Online safety law must be ‘fit for the memory’ of social media’s young victims

The father of Molly Russell, who took her own life after viewing harmful material on social media, was in the House of Lords for the debate.

Molly Russell took her own life in November 2017 after she had been viewing material on social media linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide (Family/PA) (PA Media)

A proposed online safety law must be “fit for the memory” of youngsters who have lost their lives through social media, a children’s rights campaigner has told Parliament.

Among the names of young victims read out by Baroness Kidron at Westminster was Molly Russell, whose father Ian looked on as peers started to debate the draft legislation.

The schoolgirl took her own life after viewing harmful material on social media.