A pre-inquest hearing into the tragic death of 13-year-old Maia Walsh is scheduled to take place this week at Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court. Maia was found dead in her bedroom at her family home in Hertford on October 7, 2023, after reportedly viewing self-harm videos on TikTok.
Maia’s father, Liam Walsh, from Essex, has raised concerns about the impact of disturbing online content that his daughter may have viewed before her death. According to Mr. Walsh, Maia had previously mentioned a social media game, and he is now questioning the potential role of harmful online material in contributing to her demise.
The pre-inquest review (PIR) hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 26, at 10 am. It is expected to establish the scope of the inquest, including examining Maia’s online activity and exploring whether harmful content on TikTok may have influenced her mental state.
The full inquest hearing, scheduled for a later date, will determine whether Maia’s death was the result of suicide and whether social media platforms played a role in her tragic death.
Mr. Walsh has called for greater scrutiny of online platforms like TikTok, which he believes may have exposed his daughter to harmful content. The inquest is expected to consider what steps could have been taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
The case has raised important questions about the safety of children online and the responsibilities of social media companies to protect young users from dangerous content. Authorities will be closely examining Maia’s online activity as part of the investigation.
The inquest findings could have significant implications for how social media platforms regulate harmful content aimed at young users.
