Government announces encouraging self-harm online will be criminalised

Restrictions on what can be shared on social media are set to be tightened as the Online Safety Bill will make it illegal for people to share content that encourages self-harm and suicide.  

Following the death of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who took her life in November 2017, the government have been encouraged to tighten the laws on the Online Safety Bill that was originally introduced in 2021.

The Bill currently states that harmful topics such as child sexual exploitation and terrorism should not be posted online, whether this is through advertisements or direct posting, but fails to include any details regarding self-harm and suicide. 

Although the particular details of how someone will be punished remain unclear, the amendment will see social media platforms removing harmful content and anyone found to be posting it will face prosecution. 

The 14-year-old, who lived in the North-West of London killed herself after viewing suicide and self-harm content on Instagram and Pinterest whilst she was suffering with depression.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said she was now strengthening the bill after various delays.

Ms Donelan said, ‘I am determined that the abhorrent trolls encouraging the young and vulnerable to self-harm are brought to justice.’

After an inquest in September 2022, the Corner Andrew Walker concluded the schoolgirl died while suffering from ‘negative effects of online content’ and wrote to social media firms and the government to call for changes, including separate platforms for adults and children.

Additionally, Molly’s father has been campaigning for social media firms to stop self-regulating their content. After the court ruling, he told the BBC, ‘The current government has said that they want the UK to be the safest place in the world to be online and yet we’re still here and we’re not regulating the platforms.

‘I think it’s really important, firstly, that something that is illegal in the offline world must be illegal and we must be better protected when it’s found on the online world.’

As well as authorities calling out social media sites, Ms Donelan said platforms can no longer be ‘silent bystanders’ and will face fines for allowing ‘destructive’ and ‘abusive’ behaviour.

The Bill is due to return to Parliament in early December, although the law was supposed to be reviewed earlier this year, but the digital department said it could not say when amendments would be finalised.

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