Pinterest CEO Reflects Daily on Teen's Tragic Story to Boost Social Media Safety

Bill Ready, the CEO of Pinterest, recently spoke to the BBC about the tragic story of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old girl from London who died in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, including on Pinterest. Molly’s death has become a symbol of the dangers young people face on social media. Ready said that he thinks about Molly every day and that her story guides the work Pinterest does to make its platform safer for young users. He explained that, as a parent himself, he feels deeply for Molly’s family and wants to prevent similar tragedies from happening.

Since Molly’s death, Pinterest has made several changes to protect children and teenagers. Accounts for users under 16 are now fully private, and those for users under 18 are private by default. This means that strangers cannot contact young users directly. Ready admitted that Pinterest is not perfect, but he believes the company has made significant progress in creating safer, age-appropriate experiences. He also pointed out that the platform has worked to limit exposure to harmful content, especially for vulnerable users.

Molly’s story has sparked a nationwide debate about the responsibility tech companies have to protect children online. Many people are calling for stricter regulations, and the government has introduced new laws to make the internet safer for kids. Some critics argue that these laws do not go far enough, while some tech companies complain that the rules are too strict. Ready disagrees with those who say social media cannot be made safer. He hopes Pinterest can set an example for other companies. Earlier this year, Pinterest donated to the Molly Rose Foundation, which works to reduce suicide rates among young people. Andy Burrows, the foundation’s chief executive, welcomed Pinterest’s commitment to safety. Ready also suggested that social media companies could learn from the car industry, which now competes on safety features. He believes parents should demand the safest apps for their children, just as they do with cars. However, experts note that Pinterest is smaller than platforms like TikTok and Instagram, so its impact may be limited unless larger companies follow its lead.