Father of Mia Janin urges tougher curbs on social media after landmark US ruling

The father of a Jewish schoolgirl who died after suffering sustained bullying has called for urgent government action on social media, warning tech platforms are “addictive by design” and putting young people at risk.

Speaking on LBC, Mariano Janin said recent legal developments in the United States should prompt faster action in the UK, nearly five years after his daughter’s death.

His daughter, Mia Janin, a pupil at JFS in north-west London, took her own life in March 2021. An inquest later found she had experienced prolonged bullying both in person and online.

Just months later, Janin’s wife, Marisa, died after suffering an aneurysm and leukaemia, compounding the family’s loss.

A recent US jury ruling has intensified pressure on governments to act, after Meta Platforms and Google were found liable for harm linked to social media use and ordered to pay damages in a landmark case centred on “addictive design”. The decision – seen as a potential turning point for the tech industry – has prompted calls for similar action in the UK, including stricter regulation of platforms and tougher protections for children.

Janin told the programme that the way major platforms are built makes meaningful change difficult without regulation.

“I think it’s impossible to change the addiction, because you need to understand that the way that this platform operates, it’s addictive by design,” he said.

“There is a process, there’s a way to deal with algorithms that made the attention of the kids be there most of the time.”

He argued there is already overwhelming evidence of harm and no need for further delay.

“There’s enough proof… we don’t need any consultation. We don’t need more time. The information is available in every country” he said.

His comments come as ministers consider further measures under the Online Safety Act, including proposals to raise the minimum age for social media use.

Janin criticised the pace of progress, warning that delays come at a human cost.

“Every time I hear the word time in this equation… there is a cost to young people’s life and wellbeing,” he said. “We need action. No more time, no more words, action.”

He also rejected arguments by tech companies that they are not responsible for harms linked to their platforms.

“They are the only ones that can make the platform safe … they have the funds, they have the technology. They just need to change and prioritise the well-being over profit,” he said.

Despite signs of progress, he emphasised the lasting impact on families like his.

“We just lost our kids, they will not return home… I don’t want anyone else to be in my shoes. Because the trauma is like a life sentence.”

Janin has become a prominent campaigner for stronger online protections since his daughter’s death, urging the government to act decisively to prevent further tragedies.