Kemi Badenoch has spoken candidly about the personal tragedy that has shaped her deep concerns over the impact of social media, revealing that a young relative died by suicide after becoming consumed by troubling online content.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Conservative Party leader said her cousin, who was in his twenties and living alone in Canada, had become increasingly isolated and mentally affected by what she described as “excessive internet use”. He had fallen into online communities exploring disturbing philosophical ideologies such as pro-mortalism and anti-natalism.
“I worry a lot about social media,” Ms Badenoch told the newspaper. “I have a family member who was in his 20s and went down an internet ‘rabbit hole’. He was exploring pro-mortalism and anti-natalism, and killed himself. I hadn’t heard of either of them. But I saw what excessive internet use can do.”
Pro-mortalism is the belief that human extinction would be morally justifiable in order to prevent future suffering, while anti-natalism argues that bringing new life into the world is inherently harmful or immoral. These niche ideologies have gained traction in some corners of the internet, often promoted through forums and obscure digital platforms.
Describing the lead-up to her cousin’s death, Badenoch said he left behind a “lucid and detailed” letter outlining his inner turmoil and the influence of what he had read online. “He wrote the most extraordinary lucid letter, but ended his own life,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
The Conservative leader emphasised that her concerns about social media go well beyond the frequently discussed risks to children. “My views about the dangers of social media are not just about children. I know even as adults we can get dangerously addicted.”
Ms Badenoch’s comments add to growing concern across British society about the mental health risks associated with internet overuse. While much attention has focused on the impact on younger people, experts are increasingly warning of the dangers to adults who may also find themselves overwhelmed by harmful content or echo chambers that reinforce depressive and nihilistic ideologies.
Her remarks come at a time when the influence of online platforms on behaviour is under renewed scrutiny. A recent poll conducted by the NASUWT teaching union found that a majority of teachers believe social media is playing a major role in the deterioration of pupil behaviour.
The survey, which included responses from over 5,800 teachers across the UK in January, revealed that 59% believe social media use is the primary cause of worsening behaviour in schools. Teachers pointed to a rise in aggression, disobedience, and reduced attention spans among students, all of which they link to online influence.
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The findings were released ahead of the NASUWT’s annual conference in Liverpool, taking place over the Easter weekend. Delegates are set to debate a motion highlighting concerns about far-right and populist movements using social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms to recruit young people.
The union’s motion calls for urgent action, urging the executive to assess the risk posed by such groups to students and to work collaboratively with the Government to help teachers challenge extremist narratives.
Ms Badenoch’s revelation lends emotional weight to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the unregulated digital space is causing deep harm to mental wellbeing, not only in children but across all age groups. As political leaders, educators, and mental health professionals reckon with these challenges, her personal experience may spark broader discussions about how society should respond.
For now, the Conservative leader hopes her family’s loss will serve as a warning and a call to action: to take seriously the consequences of internet overuse, to better support vulnerable individuals, and to ensure social media does not become a silent threat in an already complex mental health crisis.
