Mother who lost daughter to online bullying urges UN General Assembly to back age limits on social media

NEW YORK — At the United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan on Wednesday, Emma Mason, a 52-year-old mother from Sydney, urged world leaders to back laws restricting when children can use social media. She described the online torment that preceded her daughter Tilly Rosewarne’s death in 2022, saying the bullying was a preventable tragedy. Mason noted Australia passed last year a law requiring social media users to be at least 16, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined her in calling for global action as leaders discussed issues from climate change to war in Ukraine.

She recounted the events leading to Tilly’s death: a classmate circulated a doctored photo of her; others launched a vicious campaign on Facebook; by late 2021 a fake Facebook account taunted her with messages such as 'keep tryna to kill yourself hopefully it will work one day.' 'Tilly died from a thousand cuts that occurred over the course of her short life,' Mason said, describing how she was hounded and isolated as social media algorithms churned out more distressing content. Police later confirmed her phone history was full of Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok videos and images related to suicide and mental illness. Mason, a family lawyer by training, is part of News Corp Australia’s Let them Be Kids campaign. Her speech drew a standing ovation.

Mason argued that research shows social media is linked to poorer mental health, reduced concentration and other harms for children. 'Across the globe, children are suffering. They’re dying as a direct result of their social media engagement, and as parents we need help,' she said. She added that social media's recommendation algorithms can amplify harmful content, making it harder for young users to disengage.

Australia became the first country to pass a law requiring social media platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent under-16 accounts. Albanese urged other world leaders to back age-limit rules, arguing for shared responsibility among platforms for children's safety. Mason told The Post she believes some European countries will adopt similar measures soon, but she thinks the United States may lag because of political dynamics and economic concerns. 'I can’t save my Tilly — but we can save other Tillys,' she told The Post in a follow-up call. 'Social media is a great experiment that has wreaked havoc on our children — and social media giants need to take responsibility.'

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