What’s Internet suicide?

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Internet suicide has two potential definitions, one extremely serious and one very light. The second is committed by people who disturb a website to such an extent that they can no longer use it or lose their subscription to participate in it. The first is a disturbing and difficult trend that has unfolded in many countries where Internet use is frequent. It is usually a pact formed between two people who have only met on the internet to meet in real life and commit suicide. Variants include goading someone else to commit suicide or agree to be murdered; these acts can be undertaken privately or, even worse, are sometimes posted on the Internet.

One problem with so much information is that some of it, in the hands of disturbed people, can be used in terrible ways. There are Internet sites and chat rooms where suicidal people meet and may decide to commit suicide in groups over the Internet. The information also tells people how to effectively kill themselves, and while such information is only a risk to the mentally vulnerable, it’s still very shocking when people conceive plans to kill themselves, particularly with strangers.

In suicide chat rooms, the biggest concern may be that people don’t want to die alone and that they can encourage each other to take action. Of similar concern is that such rooms are often filled with predators who may convince others to willingly die so they can commit murder. Such scenarios are a nightmare for anyone with an internet teenager or even a loved one who has shown emotional instability in the past.

Another problem is internet suicide caused by excessive bullying or verbal harassment. These have also certainly occurred, and there may be criminal liability and potential murder charges for those involved. These examples certainly demonstrate that Internet use is both powerfully positive and potentially a huge problem.

It should be noted that most of the time an Internet suicide occurs, it gets significant media coverage. However, it would be a mistake to say these are common occurrences. Most of the time they represent an extremely small percentage of all suicides committed in a country. However, as they get more attention, some fear it will draw even more people to them, and it’s impossible or sometimes illegal to police all the sites where suicide pacts might form. Things like IM chats are usually private, and there are a number of reasons why they should stay that way.

Legislation in many countries is still catching up on how to deal with internet suicide. In murder suicide pacts, it is often easy to establish a clear intent of the killers. Yet in suicides it is difficult to tell who is responsible. Is it people who allow teenagers or others to access the Internet, or is it Internet sites that read the warning text and ignore it? Sometimes there is no way to establish any form of legal fault or civil liability.

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