Molly Russel- viewed multiple images of self-harm on Pinterest before she killed herself in November 2017. Pinterest senior executive Jud Hoffman, the head of the community operation at Pinterest, said that he ‘’deeply regrets’’ over graphic materials shown to the teenager before her death. He admitted that the platform was ‘’not safe’’ when the teenager used it.
An inquest into the teenager’s death heard how she viewed multiple images of self-harm on the pinboard website. Also, the company sent emails recommending depression-related content.
Content violating its policies “still likely exists” on the platform
Hoffman told an inquest on Thursday that Pinterest was still ‘’not perfect’’. The content violating the policies ‘’still likely exists’’. Oliver Sanders KC, the representative of Molly’s family, asked if Pinterest accepts that the social media site was not safe when Molly was on it in 2017.
Moreover, she was able to access graphical content referring to suicide, depression and self-harm. Hoffman replied: “That’s correct. There was content that should have been removed that was not removed.”
Molly, a 14 years old girl from north-west London killed herself in 2017. After viewing a significant amount of content relevant to suicide. She specifically used Pinterest and Instagram and viewed content related to anxiety, depression, suicide and self-harm.
I am sorry it happened
North London Coroner’s court heard evidence and continued the inquest. Hoffman said that it is important to note that I deeply regret it. She was able to access some of the content that was shown.
Asked by Sanders if he was sorry it had happened, Hoffman said: “I am sorry it happened.”
Hoffman admitted recommendation emails sent by Pinterest to the teenager such as “10 depression pins you might like” contained “the type of content that we wouldn’t like anyone spending a lot of time with”.
Hoffman admitted some images he was shown were ones he would “not show to my children”. He also mentioned on inquiry that some ‘’portion’’ of the content viewed by Molly has been taken down from the site.
The inquest continues.
