Mother demands social media reform after daughter's tragic death

Chelsey Whittingham is urging tech companies to prioritise people over profits after her 13-year-old daughter, Maddy Croswell, died last September. She believes harmful social media content contributed to the tragedy and is now pushing for stricter regulations. Whittingham’s calls for action follow the death of her daughter, allegedly linked to self-harm and suicide-promoting material repeatedly shown on her feed. She demands regulation of such content targeting minors and insists parental controls alone cannot counter powerful algorithms.

Her proposals include setting time limits, monitoring children’s use, and disabling data collection and algorithmic recommendations. She also advocates for better education for both parents and children on online safety.

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma supports stronger penalties for breaches of social media age laws. She highlights Australia’s recent increase of the maximum fine to $99 million, calling it a necessary measure to get the attention of for-profit companies. Sharma believes the penalty is high enough to drive change.

Whittingham welcomes Canada’s proposed social media bill but argues it needs greater transparency and independent oversight. She remains determined to push for reforms that protect vulnerable young users. The campaign for stricter social media regulations continues to gain momentum. Whittingham’s advocacy and Sharma’s support for tougher penalties signal growing pressure on tech firms. The aim is to reduce harm by holding companies accountable for the content they promote to children.