by Teresa Brouwer

Created on: September 02, 2008

On Fox news.com on November 16, 2007 an article called, "Mom: Myspace Hoax Led To Daughter's Suicide" stated, "Megan Meier thought she had made a new friend in cyberspace when a cute teenage boy named Josh contacted her on Myspace and began exchanging messages with her."

Communicating with Josh for more than a month, he ended their relationship telling her that he heard that she was a cruel person. The following day Megan committed suicide: she suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder.

Thirteen-year-old Megan hung herself in her bedroom. Come to find out, Josh was created by members of a neighborhood family in which he never existed; a cruel joke that neighbors made towards an innocent thirteen-year-old girl.

According to the American of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. for 15-to-24 years old, and the sixth leading cause of death for 5-to-14 years old."

In 2003, Japan faced an Internet suicide pact where a man and two women met online and supported one another in their desires for suicide. They committed suicide through carbon monoxide poisoning from a coal-burning stove after sealing themselves in a room with plastic sheeting and duct tape.

When teens reach out so desperately to those that will listen (or read), they don't know who they are dealing with. People aren't always honest as we now know from the Megan Meier story, and if someone is battling with depression or has suicide thoughts - cruelty from the Internet can make these young suffering teens lash out and inflict harm on themselves.

Today, the Internet has become a place for seeking advice, support and acceptance. Many will provide a hoax profile pretending they are someone they're not, and when a person trusts this "Profile," it becomes a recipe for disaster.

The Internet is nothing but a mere lighted screen filled with words and pictures. There are no guarantees online that these pictures are, in fact, the people they claim to be. Neither is the profile they provide.

For some reason, the trust within Internet friends is easily manipulated more so than trusting a "real life" friend. This is probably due to the un-emotional attachment involved online, and showing a person that you care about their well-being through twisted words. And in today's world emotions are shown through icons.

The Internet is connected to teenage suicide rates when a teenager commits suicide due to Internet involvement. Megan Meier's suicide act is part of the Internet suicide rate/statistics. She was battling with a mental illness and she was being toyed with by a cruel hoax. In turn, she committed suicide.

If Megan wasn't involved with Myspace and a fake Josh, the odds probably would have been in her favor by still being here. Although, people who battle with depression may commit suicide, not every person who battles with a mental illness kills themselves.

Unfortunately, I believe that the Internet will be connected with teenage suicide rates in our near future. It already started as it takes only one person to start the statistic rate. Sometimes, people will commit suicide and families don't know why as they don't share their plans to end their lives.

Pedophiles are swamped all over the net. What makes anyone second guess the Internet not being connected with teenage suicide?

Learn more about this author, Teresa Brouwer.
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