Mother sues Meta and TikTok after daughter's suicide linked to algorithms
An Italian mother is suing Meta and TikTok, claiming their recommendation algorithms contributed to her 12-year-old daughter's death after the girl searched for and was repeatedly exposed to content about self-harm and depression. The parents allege the algorithms continued promoting similar harmful material for five months before the child's death in early 2024, part of what is reported to be the first coordinated Italian lawsuit challenging how social media algorithms affect minors.", "event_date": "2024", "facts": [ { "claim": "Rosella began searching for content related to depression and self-harm in September 2023.", "source_url": "https://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/mono-ena-nekro-atomo-to-mystiko-instagram-profil-12xronis-italidas-pou-aytoktonise-sto-edolio-stelnei-i-mitera-tis-meta-tiktok/4705681/" }, { "claim": "After her death, her parents discovered Rosella had maintained a hidden Instagram profile named 'Just a dead pers0n'.", "source_url": "https://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/mono-ena-nekro-atomo-to-mystiko-instagram-profil-12xronis-italidas-pou-aytoktonise-sto-edolio-stelnei-i-mitera-tis-meta-tiktok/4705681/" }, { "claim": "The mother stated that the algorithms appeared to operate independently, growing until they overshadowed the happy and social side of her daughter.", "source_url": "https://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/mono-ena-nekro-atomo-to-mystiko-instagram-profil-12xronis-italidas-pou-aytoktonise-sto-edolio-stelnei-i-mitera-tis-meta-tiktok/4705681/" }, { "claim": "This is reported to be the first coordinated legal effort in Italy that directly challenges how social media algorithms operate and their impact on minors.", "source_url": "https://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/mono-ena-nekro-atomo-to-mystiko-instagram-profil-12xronis-italidas-pou-aytoktonise-sto-edolio-stelnei-i-mitera-tis-meta-tiktok/4705681/" } ] }
What happened
A 12-year-old Italian girl named Rosella died by suicide in early 2024 after months of using Instagram and TikTok. According to her parents, she began searching for content related to depression and self-harm in September 2023.
After Rosella's death, her parents unlocked her devices and discovered she had used social media far more than they knew, including a hidden Instagram profile named 'Just a dead pers0n' (with the numeral 0 replacing the letter O). The parents allege that the algorithms of both platforms continuously fed her increasingly similar harmful content over the following five months until her death.
Reported impact
Rosella's mother stated that her daughter's behavioral change was rapid and shocking. She said the algorithms appeared to operate independently, growing to eventually overshadow the happy and social side of her daughter.
The mother describes the tragedy as a sudden illness that struck the family without warning, saying that without the algorithm, her daughter's mental state deterioration might have followed a more natural course.
Index analysis
This is reported to be the first coordinated legal effort in Italy that directly challenges how social media algorithms operate and their impact on minors. Multiple families across the country joined the lawsuit seeking stricter limits on minors' access to social media and greater transparency about algorithm risks.
Both Meta and TikTok deny the allegations, stating they implement continuous protective measures for teenagers, including Meta's Teen Accounts program and TikTok's removal of over 99% of content violating mental health and self-harm policies.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.