Instagram was the last smartphone app the schoolgirl Molly Russell viewed on the night she took her own life, an inquest has heard.
The 14-year-old from Harrow, north London, died by suicide in 2017 after viewing self-harm and suicide material on social media sites.
Ian Russell, Molly’s father, has previously accused Instagram - owned by Meta, formerly known as Facebook - of “helping to kill” his daughter with the material it showed her, just six days before her 15th birthday.
Now, following a five-year wait, an inquest at Barnet Coroner’s Court is aiming to establish if the schoolgirl was “overwhelmed” by the content she viewed on Instagram, Pinterest and other apps.
On Wednesday, the court was told that Molly was found dead in her bedroom by her mother on the morning of Nov 21 2017.
Her parents had noticed she had not “been herself” for most of that year, with her father telling police she had become “quiet and withdrawn”.
But, until her death, they had no idea the extent of her personal torment.
A statement was read to the court from Michael Walker, a specialist investigator who examined data from two devices belonging to Molly, including her iPhone.
On the night of her death, she had used her phone to interact with applications including Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, the court was told.
It was last used to access Instagram at 12.45am on Nov 21.
She also had Twitter, Pinterest, Whatsapp and an app called Talklife installed on her phone, described by Mr Walker as “a peer support network for those struggling with mental health in particular, stress, anxiety, depression and self-harm”.
An examination of her search data found records apparently deleted by Molly which showed she had been researching suicide methods, including on Nov 12.
Molly was said to be an “avid fan” of an American YouTube star called Salice Rose who has spoken about suicide and depression.
“It is also maybe relevant that Miss Russell died either on the birthday of Salice Rose or just after,” said Mr Walker’s statement, read to the court by Oliver Sanders KC.
A note was found on her phone which appeared to be a draft birthday message to an American rapper called Phora, who has publicly spoken about his struggles with depression.
It said: “You’ve saved so many lives, you've saved mine you've shown what being thro s--t can do to you, it makes u stronger and wiser and honestly I’m so glad to support you.”
‘I just want to be pretty’
Another note on her phone, first created in October 2017, was titled “I just wanna be pretty” and contained a daily log of her weight and stomach measurements.
In May 2017, Molly had sent a message to a friend expressing concern for her, saying: “Promise me you’ll come to me whenever you feel you cant carry on.”
Mr Walker said: “From the data examined I have found that Miss Russell had a close-knit family unit and a small number of close friends.
“She appears to have identified that she was having some mental health problems during 2017 and has identified some of her close friends may have had the same issues.
“She has provided support to those friends who have in turn supported her. She appears to have visited a number of internet sites or pages related to depression and anxiety and began following a number of pop artists and social media stars who talk openly about depression and suicide.
“She appears to be concerned about her appearance and worries about exams and friendship groups which could be considered as normal teenage anxieties.”
He added: “Her behaviour within this data from her phone, leading up to her death, appears to be normal and in keeping with any other days. I can identify no apparent trigger or event that has led to her death from the data I have reviewed.”
A poem by Molly's friends which was read at her funeral: 'Our best friend, Molly. Thank you.
— Molly Rose Foundation (@mollyroseorg) September 21, 2022
'Thank you for inspiring us to face our fears, for encouraging us to grow.
'Thank you for showing us that we can get through the rain... and for believing in ourselves.' pic.twitter.com/7hGlxcM24m
Earlier in the hearing, the inquest had opened with a “pen portrait” of Molly delivered by her father, who is attending the proceedings along with her mother, Janet, and one of her sisters.
Mr Russell (59) said: “It’s all too easy to dwell on the events that led Molly to end her life. It’s all too easy to forget the person she really was: someone full of love and hope and happiness, a young person full of promise and opportunity and potential.”
He continued: “Molly was a positive, happy, bright young lady who was indeed destined to do good. Her life mattered and her place in the world will remain as important as it always was.
“Although her story is not the one any of us would have chosen to tell, and it is different to the one she would tell herself if she were still here, it will be just as powerful and influential.
“For those who knew Molly. Never forget the adorable young woman Molly was. Never forget her caring nature. Never forget how great a friend Molly was to so many.
“For everyone touched by her story, remember there’s always help and hope. Remember to live long and stay strong as Molly wished.”
Meta has been granted “interested person” status in the inquest, meaning it will officially legally take part in the proceedings in what is thought to be a first for the tech company in the UK.
Pinterest confirmed it was the first time it was acting as an interested person in a UK inquest.
The inquest continues.
