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Some of the biggest social media platforms are failing to detect and remove dangerous suicide and self-harm content, according to a study.
The Molly Rose Foundation found that of more than 12 million content moderation decisions made by six of the biggest platforms, over 95% of them were detected and removed by only two sites – Pinterest and TikTok.
The other four platforms that featured in the report were Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X, formerly Twitter.
The foundation said it found the response of most platforms to such content was “inconsistent, uneven and unfit for purpose”.
The charity said Meta’s Instagram and Facebook were each responsible for 1% of all suicide and self-harm content detected by the major sites studied, and X is responsible for just 700 content decisions.
The foundation is now warning that the Online Safety Act does not go far enough to address what it says are clear systematic failures in the content moderation approach of social media firms.
Ian Russell, the charity’s chairman, has urged the government to commit to a new Online Safety Bill that can further strengthen regulation.
Mr Russell and his family set up the Molly Rose Foundation in memory of his daughter, Molly, who ended her life at age 14, in November 2017, after viewing harmful content on social media.
“Almost seven years after Molly died, it’s shocking to see most major tech companies continue to sit on their hands and choose inaction over saving young lives,” Mr Russell said.
“As the last few weeks have shown, it’s abundantly clear that much more ambitious regulation is required.
“That’s why it’s time for the new government to finish the job and commit to a strengthened Online Safety Act.
“Parents across the country will be rightly appalled that the likes of Instagram and Facebook promise warm words but continue to expose children to inherently preventable harm.
“No ifs, no buts, it’s clear that assertive action is required.”
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