Snapchat apologises after Tilly Rosewarne’s suicide as parents demand change

The family of a country girl who suicided after relentless bullying is pleading with the government to enact change, asking “how many more kids do we have to bury?”

Social media giant Snapchat has apologised before a parliamentary inquiry over the case of a NSW schoolgirl who took her own life after years of being tormented by bullies on platforms such as its own.

The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday revealed the story of Bathurst teen Matilda “Tilly” Rosewarne, 15, who died last month and was farewelled at a funeral on Tuesday.

Her family revealed many disturbing accounts of bullying, including a tormentor circulating fake nude images of Tilly on Snapchat.

Her mother Emma Mason said a complaint was lodged with police but they had “significant difficulties” confirming who the Snapchat account belonged to.

Ms Mason ultimately decided to pull the investigation.

Murray and Emma Rosewarne with their children including 15-year-old daughter Tilly Rosewarne, who took her life after years of bullying.

Tilly died after years of bullying.

At a hearing for the inquiry into social media and online safety on Wednesday, Liberal committee chair Lucy Wicks asked Snapchat what could be done to make sure the same thing did not happen to anyone else.

“Today, I opened a story from the Daily Tele about a young 15-year-old who took her life following a lot of bullying, including cyber bullying,” Ms Wicks said.

“It’s heartbreaking, from not being invited to parties to having fake nudes spread on social media.

“Her parents say they want to do everything they can to make sure no other little humans go through this.

“What do we do to make sure no little humans go through this?”

Snapchat’s head of public policy in the Asia Pacific, Henry Turnbull, said he had also read the story and apologised to Tilly’s family.

“I just wanted to say how sorry I am for what they are going through right now,’’ Mr Turnbull said.

“That case unfortunately highlights … how bullying and abuse can often take place among people who know each other very well in real life.

“It is a real challenge across a whole bunch of areas.”

Ms Mason believes schools need to

have a zero tolernace approach to bullying.

Tilly’s mother Emma Mason said the government had to do more to prevent cyber-bullying and schoolyard bullying.

“Kids need to know that when you do [bully], there has to be a repercussion,” she said.

“I don’t know how many more children we need to bury? How many more families have to implode?”

The talented dancer, painter and star debater’s mental health spiralled after a relentless bullying campaign involving death threats and suicide taunts.

Ms Mason believes the introduction of a database of students’ phone numbers, emails and social accounts could help schools to confirm the identity of cyber bullies on social media.

“I hope it will help save lives,” she said.

Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said it was not uncommon for cyberbullies to hide behind fake accounts.

“The only way to get that identification data is from the police contacting social media giants,” she said. “Where it falls through is when the reporting officer does not know how to conduct an investigation.”

She said schools and police need more training to deal with reports of cyber-bullying.

“Frontline police don’t have specific training in how to investigate online crimes,” she said.  

“I think schools also need more education and local police support for those cases.”

Co-director of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre Professor Ian Hickie said there has been a concerning trend in younger people self-harming and he believes schools need to focus on providing more social support for victims of bullying.

“What we should be doing is supporting the people who may inadvertently be the target whether that be peer support or from teachers,” he said.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell was contacted for comment.

Reports of cyber-bullying can be investigated by the eSafety Commissioner, who was recently been given new powers to request information to prevent identity shielding. The body also has the powers to remove the content.