Meta and Pinterest have quietly contributed funds to the Molly Rose Foundation — a charity established in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who tragically took her own life in 2017 after being exposed to harmful suicide-related content on social media platforms.
Molly, who lived in Harrow, north-west London, died after being exposed to deeply distressing content online. In her honour, the Molly Rose Foundation — named after her middle name — was launched to promote safer online experiences for young people.
The foundation’s most recent annual report notes the receipt of grants from anonymous donors. Trustees have agreed to respect their wishes for anonymity.
According to BBC reports, these donations are believed to have come from Meta and Pinterest beginning in 2024, with further contributions expected in the coming years. The Russell family has not accepted any money from these donations, and the amounts involved remain undisclosed.
Shifting Policies and Ongoing Concerns
The donations arrive as pressure mounts internationally on social media firms to address their impact on children’s mental health. In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced major policy changes, announcing the company would reduce proactive scanning for harmful content in some cases.
Instead, it would rely more heavily on users reporting such content to avoid overreach and promote free expression.
The Molly Rose Foundation expressed concern that these adjustments could place vulnerable young users at greater risk. Despite this, Molly’s family have opted not to pursue legal action against either Meta or Pinterest.
“Following the coroner’s inquest into Molly’s death, we have decided that we will pursue the aims we share with Meta and Pinterest through the Molly Rose Foundation to help ensure young people have a positive experience online, instead of pursuing legal action We, Molly’s family, have always made clear that we would never accept compensation consequent upon Molly’s death,” a family statement issued by Leigh Day solicitors confirmed.
Charity Expands Efforts to Protect Young People Online
In the past nine months, the Molly Rose Foundation has grown significantly, appointing a chief executive officer, two public policy managers, a head of communications, and a fundraising manager.
The foundation has been actively campaigning for the UK Government to bolster the Online Safety Act, urging more accountability from tech companies regarding content promoted via algorithms.
Ian Russell, Molly’s father, continues to play a leading role in advocating for online safety for young people, serving as an unpaid trustee of the foundation.
