Kim Devins is still haunted by the tragic death of her daughter Bianca. Bianca was killed by a man she met on Instagram, who then shared photos of her lifeless body online. These gruesome images spread like wildfire on platforms like 4chan and Discord, with many users making light of her death.
In an effort to shed light on this dark side of social media, Kim Devins is speaking out in Investigation Discovery’s true-crime series, “Deadly Influence.” She wants the world to know about Bianca and the important message that needs to be shared. Kim emphasizes the need for legislative and social media company changes to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
As Bianca struggled with mental health issues, she turned to social media to find a sense of community. Her online following grew, prompting Kim to closely monitor her daughter’s online interactions. Despite her efforts to protect Bianca, tragedy struck when she met Brandon Clark on Instagram, leading to her untimely demise.
The aftermath of Bianca’s death was filled with trauma for Kim and her family. They were constantly bombarded with photos of Bianca’s corpse and vile messages online. Despite their efforts to report and remove these disturbing images, social media platforms often failed to act swiftly.
Kim’s relentless advocacy led to the passing of Bianca’s Law in New York, making it illegal to disseminate graphic personal photos, especially crime scene images. While this was a step in the right direction, Kim continues to push for federal legislation to hold social media companies accountable on a larger scale.
Brandon Clark, Bianca’s murderer, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. While this brought some sense of justice, Kim acknowledges that nothing can bring her daughter back or erase the trauma they’ve endured. Her mission now is to ensure that Bianca’s legacy prevents other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
Reflecting on her experience, Kim stresses the importance of monitoring children’s online activities and getting to know their friends. Despite her vigilance, she acknowledges that even the most stringent precautions could not prevent the tragedy that befell Bianca.
Kim’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the depths of social media and the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals. Through her unwavering advocacy, Kim hopes to make the internet a safer place for everyone, ensuring that no parent has to endure the pain she has faced.