Suicide prevention charity backs social media under-16s ban

The boss of a suicide prevention charity has warned that social media companies must not be allowed to “drag their feet” over the government’s social media ban for under 16s.

Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity which deploys innovative technology to intercept harmful material related to suicide and self-harm online to institutions and businesses including the University of Portsmouth has called on the government to ensure that tech companies who do not comply with the laws should face a substantial fine or penalty.

The charity which has intercepted over 100,000 harmful searches relating to suicide and self-harm has come out in support of the rumoured ban of social media for under 16s in the UK but believe that a swift and clear timeline for implementation must be outlined.

95% of children aged 8-14 years old in the UK are on social media spending an average of between 3-4 hours plus on the platforms daily. The charity believes that the harm to children is being wilfully ignored by tech bosses in search of profit over the wellbeing and lives of the younger generation.

Alice Hendy MBE, CEO and founder of Ripple Suicide Prevention, who is from Stubbington, said: “The government’s announcement of a ban on social media for under 16s is promising and will act as another layer of protection for children against online harms. We hope that the government will take a hard line against big tech as any attempt to water down the consequences of not implementing the ban would only result in much greater harm being done. The government alongside social media organisations must now outline a clear and swift timeline for full implementation. Any attempt for big tch to drag their feet must face a substantial fine or criminal liability. We cannot allow social media companies to continue along their path of inaction.” 

Alice founded the organisation after losing her brother Josh to suicide in 2020. Discovering that he had been searching for ways to take his own life prior to his death, Alice sought to develop innovative technology to intercept harmful searches and offer support to those in crisis.

Since 2020, Ripple Suicide Prevention Charity has deployed technology across browsers, WIFI networks and on mobile devices that discreetly intercepts harmful searches relating to suicide and self-harm and redirected users in crisis to free 24/7 mental health support. Suicide is the third leading cause of death amongst young people worldwide, the charity believes that the prevalence of social media has not only had a dramatic impact on children’s mental health but also proliferated exposure to content related to suicide and self-harm to an audience who previously would have never been in contact with it.

With Ripple Technology deployed at over 650 educational institutions in the UK and worldwide including the University of Portsmouth, the charity hopes that a social media ban with criminal prosecutions will add an additional layer of online safety to children across the UK.

For more information on the charity's efforts in suicide prevention visit - www.ripplesuicideprevention.com