TikTok and Instagram accused of targeting teens with suicide and self-harm content

Suicide and self-harm content recommended ‘at industrial scale’ by TikTok and Instagram, research finds

Suicide and self-harm content is being recommended ‘at industrial scale’ by TikTok and Instagram, a new report by the Molly Rose foundation has found.

TikTok and Instagram accused of targeting teens with suicide and self-harm content

The findings were made in advance of new regulation coming into force as part of the Online Safety Act, which the government says will protect children online.

Kids 'targeted by dangerous TikTok and Instagram posts on industrial scale'

Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly tragically took her own life in 2017, said it is 'staggering' that social media algorithms are targeting vulnerable youngsters

Social Media Continues to Promote Suicide-Related Content to Teens Despite New UK Safety Regulations

Social media platforms continue to disseminate content related to depression, suicide, and self-harm among teenagers, despite the introduction of new online safety regulations designed to safeguard children. The Molly Rose Foundation created a fake account pretending to be a 15-year-old girl and interacted with posts concerning suicide, self-harm, and depression. This led to the algorithm [...] The post Social Media Continues to Promote Suicide-…

Suicide and self-harm content still recommended ‘at industrial scale’ by TikTok and Instagram eight years after Molly's death

Our new research finds algorithms continue to recommend suicide, self-harm and depression content at scale Instagram and TikTok accused of gaming the Online Safety Act as legislation comes into force Experts warn the Online Safety Act is not ambitious enough to tackle the scale of harm taking place on social media Ian Russell calls on Prime Minister to act urgently to strengthen legislation and address the preventable harm happening on his watch…

TikTok, Instagram ‘gaming’ UK Online Safety Act on reporting functions, group says | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation

MLex Summary: TikTok and Instagram are “gaming” their duties under the Online Safety Act by including reporting functionality that allows child users to validate as well as reject harmful content as required, according to a report by the Molly Rose Foundation. The suicide prevention group has published benchmarking of the two social media platforms as of March 2025 to demonstrate any future impact the act’s implementation has. It demonstrates th…