Tech Talk

Online safety and social media liability: Has the tide turned?

Tech companies might have to be responsible for their algorithmic design and commercial decisions after landmark ruling on British teen’s death.

The coroner overseeing the case in Britain ruled that Instagram and other social media platforms had contributed to Molly Russell's death. PHOTO: NYTIMES
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Last week, a United Kingdom coroner's court ruled that British teen Molly Russell died in 2017 "from an act of self-harm while suffering from depression and the negative effects of online content". The coroner determined that the social media content contributed to her death in a "more than minimal way".

The court heard that on Instagram, the 14-year-old had saved, liked or shared over 16,000 Instagram posts including photos and videos romanticising self-harm and suicide. Some 2,000 were found to be sad, gloomy and depressing images. Pinterest had prompted her with e-mails recommending content such as "10 depression pins you might like".

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