Matt Hancock asks social media giants to eliminate information about suicide and self-injury



[ad_1]

SThe state secretary for health has asked social media giants to purge their sites of self-harm and suicide material or to submit to legislation.

Matt Hanbad, Secretary of State for Health and Social Affairs, wrote this weekend to social media officials to warn them that action was "urgent" to ensure they did not violate public policy. Internet service providers.

In the letter, Mr. Hanbad expresses his growing concern for damaging online content and states that it is "appalling" to find how easy it is to access content that "leads to" 39, self-mutilation and encourage suicide ".

The letter, sent to business leaders on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, Google and Apple, arrives just days after father Ian Russell explained how Instagram helped kill his daughter Molly, aged 14 years old.

In 2017, Molly was found dead in her room after showing "no obvious signs" of mental health issues, but her family later discovered that she had reviewed information on social media. related to anxiety, depression, self-injury and suicide.

Mr. Hanbad wrote in his letter: "Like all parents, I was horrified to learn that Molly, a 14 year old woman, had tragically committed suicide.

"The grief that Molly's parents feel is something that no one should have to live. Every suicide is a preventable death, including that of Molly.

"It is appalling to still have easy access to this online content and I have no doubt about the damage that this material can cause, especially for young people.

"It's time for Internet and social media providers to intensify and purge this content once and for all.

"I want to work with Internet and social media providers to make the action as effective as possible.

"However, let me clarify that we will introduce new legislation if necessary."

Mr. Hanbad ends his letter by writing, "I look forward to working with you with the urgency this program needs."

[ad_2]
Source link