Scots MP calls for tighter social media regulation after 'online knife crime glamorisation'
A Labour MP has called for a stop to the "very real glamorisation of knife crime online", following the death of Scots teenager Kayden Moy.
Kayden, 16, was found with serious injuries at Irvine beach on May 17. The East Kilbride teen was rushed to hospital but sadly died a short time later. Three teenagers, one aged 14 and two aged 17, have been charged in connection with his death.
On Monday, during Home Office Questions at Westminster, Joani Reid - MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven - raised the issue of knife crime being glorified on social media.
It comes amid the Record's applauded Our Kids ... Our Future campaign which was launched two years ago in response to a youth violence epidemic. As part of the campaign, we have repeatedly demanded for online tech giants to enforce fully their policies on tackling harmful content such as videos of young people attacking others.
Ms Reid said: "Six weeks ago, Kayden Moy, a 16-year-old boy from East Kilbride in my constituency, was stabbed to death, leaving his family bereft and a community - my community - in grief.
"Since Kayden's tragic death, I have received multiple videos and images of local youths posing while wielding machetes in their own homes, but the police claim that they are powerless to take any action whatever.
"Does the Minister agree that much more needs to be done to stop the very real glamorisation of knife crime online, and to prevent social media from being a breeding ground for youth violence?"
The minister expressed her condolences to Kayden's family and friends. She continued: "My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the role that social media can play in glamorising these types of weapons.
"That is why it is so important that we have measures in the Crime and Policing Bill and the Online Safety Act 2023 to start to tackle that. As I say, it is absolutely appalling."
Afterwards, Reid pledged to continue to press the issue. She added: 'Kayden's death was a tragedy for his family and a shock to the whole of East Kilbride. The worrying fact is that knife crime is rising across Scotland, even in schools, and we need to mobilise as a community to bring it under control.
'I have been sent numerous videos by concerned and frightened constituents of boys and young men posing in their bedrooms with dangerous knives and blades. The social media companies refuse to act, and the police say they have not got the power to act. But there can be no excuses for doing nothing when we all know this bravado leads on to violence.
'I will use the summer weeks to press social media companies, public authorities and the Scottish government to get their act together on knife crime and to insist we get real action and not more excuses.'
As part of the Our Kids ... Our Future campaign, the Record have repeatedly demanded the Scottish Government to invest in young people, so they can be nurtured, mentored and guided in every community.
Last month, Glasgow's council leader Susan Aitken described the tragic deaths of three teenagers to knife crime as 'a warning sign' in an emergency meeting on youth violence.
Scotland has been rocked by three blade tragedies in less than 12 months. Alongside Kayden, Amen Teklay, an Eritrean refugee, died after being found seriously injured in Maryhill on March 5.
Kory McCrimmon, 16, died after being attacked with a blade in Greenfield Park on May 31, 2024. A 14-year-old boy was sentenced to five years for the culpable homicide of Kory.
The issue was brought before the full council after a powerful march on Sunday June 22 by the family of Kory McCrimmon. His grieving parents, leading the Parents Against Knives campaign, told the country "enough is enough" and demanded action from leaders in Holyrood.
City leader Susan Aitken said the three deaths showed there was a growing problem with youth violence in Scotland.
She said: 'If some of our young people are being drawn into violence by anti-social behaviou r that negatively affects them and the wider public then that's a problem and we need to address it.
'If other young folk are so fearful of being affected by violence that they themselves need to carry blades, that's a cycle we need to break.'
Scotland's justice secretary has pledged an additional £6m to tackle youth violence after the latest summit. Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance announced the move last month and will come next year as part of the Scottish Government's Cashback for Communities Fund.
Constance went on to admit there is little she can say to comfort the parents of the boys involved in all three tragedies.
She said: "I know there is probably little I can say to comfort grieving families.
"I also know from my direct engagement with families of victims who have suffered a fatality that what they want more than anything, is to know that this won't happen to any other families.
"They also want to know that the risk of this happening to others is reduced.
"That's why we are so focused on prevention because that is the best and most effective way to prevent other families from facing this."
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