MPs call for tougher online harms laws after three girls in social media group are found unwell

MPs have called for robust laws against online harm after three girls, who were part of an Instagram ‘suicide pact’, were found seriously ill in the street.

A dozen girls, aged 12 to 16 from across the South of England, were found to be part of the online chat group – which described members as a ‘Suicide Squad’.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, said it has investigated the closed social media group but discovered no content that broke its rules.

This means the group has not been removed online.

A dozen girls, aged 12 to 16 from across the South of England, were found to be part of the online chat group – which described members as a ‘Suicide Squad’ 

Julian Knight, chairman of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, last night said the ‘disturbing incident’ showed that tougher laws were needed to regulate social media and called for the introduction of proof of age policies.

He said: ‘This shocking story underlines why we need really robust online harms legislation right away.

‘One part that is really disturbing is that young people under the age of 16 seem to be able to access these social media sites and the template to share such disturbing content.

‘We need a much more thorough age assurance in place to protect young people.

‘In the same way you can’t go into a pub unless you show your ID, there needs to be an age verification process for social media too.’ 

Facebook, which owns Instagram, said it has investigated the closed social media group but discovered no content that broke its rules

Mr Knight added: ‘This incident is very disturbing, I can’t imagine what the parents went through.’

The online group was only discovered when three of its members were found ‘seriously unwell’ in the street after travelling to Chingford, east London, last month.

They were rushed to hospital for urgent treatment where one of them revealed they had made a suicide pact. The girls were later discharged from hospital.

Their phones were seized and officers were able to trace another nine girls who were also members of the chat.

But by the time the youngsters were identified, seven of them had already self-harmed.

Officers from five police forces have been part of the investigation, which was revealed in a police briefing note first reported by the BBC.

Social care services from seven local authorities are also involved in protecting the children identified.

It is understood that some of them met on other social media platforms before joining the Instagram group whose title explicitly mentions ‘suicide’. 

A second social media page, which was linked to another incident on the same day, is subject to a police investigation and has been removed.

A spokesman for the British Transport Police (BTP), which led the investigation, said they believed that the two incidents were ‘localised’.

In a statement, a Facebook spokesman said they were ‘co-operating with the police on this important investigation’.

But the spokesman added: ‘[We] reviewed reports but found no content that broke our rules, not in fact any suicide or self-harm related content.’ 

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org