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Are Social Networks Responsible for Teen Suicides?
Within the past year, the area surrounding town of Bridgend in Wales has been rocked with no less than 14 young people taking their own lives. In the past days, two more suicides of young people living in the area have been reported.
Deep in to each article about this growing trend are often paragraphs mentioning each lost teenager were part of the Bebo social network, and knew each other. This, coupled with the geographical location, has lead to fears of a suicide pact, or secret organisation where members take their own life for fame.
The story is distressing to many that have never even been to Wales, but for those interested in social media, the Bebo angle, plus the fame aspect, is a trend that I do not believe should be ignored.
I have always been of the opinion that it is the person using the tool, not the tool itself, that is the issue – akin to the phrase "Guns don’t kill people, people kill people". I am still of this view, vehemently, and so would argue against anyone Bebo, if indeed it’s offerings have been used in any way in this tragedy. Certainly in this tragic case, you cannot argue this is a widespread phenomenon.
Many reports of the British press have mentioned eulogy websites for those that have died, some suggesting their social network profiles of kind messages of sympathy are part of the young people’s motivation for suicide. That either dedicated sites, or existing profile pages, are filled with messages that maybe they feel haven’t been given whilst alive. A permanent memory of them – fame.
Some would say, especially right-wing press here in Britain, that social networks (or the entire internet) needs policing, and monitoring. They will howl that any tool used in freedom by young people will poison them. Even if the only evidence for such measures is extremely rare cases such as this.
I cannot agree with them, maybe you do? Maybe the fact that most social networking applications are used by a young, vulnerable, impressionable demographic urges you to consider its true merits, taking in to account possible downsides.
Please leave your thoughts in the comments. I would also like to extend my heart-felt sympathies to all those involved in these tragic and unfair circumstances.
This guest post was written by Matt Harwood from London
Hey Darren – many thanks for the comment. I don’t personally believe Bebo, or any network, is responsible – but the commonly-understood theme is that they all knew each other in some form, and converse through Bebo.
As for the water, Wales’ water supply is very fresh, if I remember correctly!
Hey Matt, I think there something odd going on here but I don’t think it has any thing to do with facebook or bebo.
I think they should look at the water or something in this area.
Sam – nice to see you and many thanks for the comment. That link by Kevin looks fantastic, I’ll read it as soon as I can, thank you.
I certainly agree about being at the beginning, but the philisophical side of me screams “we are always at the beginning!” :-)
All the best,
Matt
What has happened in Wales is very sad but not due to any social network. I would read this post by Kevin Kelly http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/02/the_bottom_is_n.php which discusses the need for a few topdown rules.
As we embrace the digital age we will develop new societies and new rules, we are only at the beginning.
Maybe they were all members of a suicide cult on Bebo or something. Who knows? I must say that the viral nature of social networking makes it incredibly easy for inappropriate behavior to 1) go on unnoticed and 2) spread quickly.
I don’t blame Bebo. I think that everyone is accountable for their own actions, and if they can’t legally be held accountable then they shouldn’t be free to undertake certain activities, such as social networking. In that respect I don’t think that under 18s should be allowed to social network. Yeah, it may be fun, but so is drinking alcohol and going clubbing. Both of these activities have age restrictions.. Kids should stick to mobile phones and playground catch ups. They’d be a lot safer then.
I don’t know I have seen some real shitty parts of wales on my travels through. I have to say it looks like a depressing place to live and if it happened it was most likely covered to death by the local press and was therefore on everyones mind.
I had read another article about these suicides in our newspaper, and it quoted one of the teenagers as saying, that they were ready to go to a better place. I cannot help but wonder if these teens had received a better education about life, instead of just believing the persuasion that there exists a wonderful afterlife, that they still might be here today. I do not think these poor teens were told how precious life is; and have chosen to believe in a fantasy instead. It is only human’s own narcissism which allows us to believe we are immortal. Unfortunately, the internet feeds into this false hope by giving them fame…too bad they are not around to enjoy it.