Mom who lost daughter, 15, to suicide after online bullying urges UN General Assembly to support laws banning kids’ from social media

A heartbroken mom who lost her 15-year-old daughter to suicide after cruel online bullying urged world leaders to support legislation banning kids’ use of social media during a UN General Assembly in Manhattan Wednesday.

Emma Mason, 52, of Sydney, described her daughter Tilly’s torment and tragic death while speaking in support of laws like the one Australia passed last year, requiring social media users to be at least 16 years old.

“She climbed on top of the backyard tree house. She slipped the noose around her neck,” Mason told the assembly in tears. “And social media played a direct role in her death.”

Tilly hanged herself in February 2022 after a classmate circulated a doctored photo of her naked on Snapchat and others launched a vicious campaign on Facebook, urging her to take her own life, said Mason, who spoke at the assembly, along with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“Tilly died from a thousand cuts that occurred over the course of her short life,” she said. “From not being invited to birthday parties that ‘everyone’ is at, only to have girls ring, message and taunt her all night long, to harassment and bullying via social media.”

“By late 2021, Tilly was in tears over a fake Facebook account which sent her a message stating, ‘keep tryna to kill yourself hopefully it will work one day,’” said Mason — who is part of News Corp Australia’s “Let them Be Kids” campaign, in support of setting age limits on social media use.

As bullying sent Tilly into depression and anxiety, social media algorithms churned out video footage of suicide that only made things worse, said Mason, who is a family lawyer by trade.

“Tilly was hysterical and spiraling,” she said. “The algorithms of her social media kicked in, and the content became dark, very dark.”

“Afterwards, police confirmed her phone history was full of Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok videos and images, related to suicide, death and mental illness.”

Mason stressed to world leaders — who had gathered in the Big Apple to discuss everything from climate change to war in Ukraine — that research shows social media is linked to kids’ poor mental health, concentration, social skills, and negative body image and more.

“In the same way car manufacturers are responsible for protecting those who drive their vehicles, social media giants must  take responsibility for protecting our children,” she said. 

“Across the globe, children are suffering. They’re dying  as a direct result of their social media engagement, and as parents we need help.”

Mason, whose speech was met with a standing ovation, told The Post she believes some European countries will soon adopt similar legislation but that US will be behind the curve due too many “economic pulls” in our politics.

“I can’t save my Tilly — but we can save other Tillys,” she told The Post in a call after the speech. “Social media is a great experiment that has wreaked havoc on our children — and social media giants need to take responsibility.”

“I’ve got a really horrific story to tell … and I want to spur on governments to do something to protect our children,” she said.

Last year, Australia became the first country in the world to pass a law requiring social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from creating social media accounts.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.