Children need to be protected from toxic social media platforms | Letters

Readers reflect on the Molly Russell inquest verdict and hope that it will be a turning point for technology firms

Regarding the Molly Russell inquest, my 19-year-old daughter has grown up on social media, suffered with intense anxiety and depression, self-harmed for all of her secondary school years and attempted suicide more than once (The Molly Russell inquest verdict damns Silicon Valley. There can be no more excuses, 30 September). When visiting family over the summer, her aunt, who has two children under 10, asked her opinion on when children should be given a smartphone. Without a second's hesitation her reply was: Don't ever give them a phone. Social media has ruined my life and almost killed me."

Thank you to Molly's brave family. The documentary The Social Dilemma should be mandatory viewing for all children in primary school.
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