14 DAY TRIAL // MySpace and Facebook, the two top services when it comes to social networking, have an impressive influence over its registered members and we all know that. But listen to this: a 13-year-old girl committed suicide after Josh, another registered user, told her she's a bad person and the world would be better without her. Megan Meier met Josh on MySpace and, after one month of chatting, she was shocked to find out that the boy wants to stop any virtual relation with her. According to the Associated Press, Josh sent her a message, saying that she's cruel and he doesn't want to talk with her anymore. But what's more interesting is that Josh was a fake profile made by some neighbors who apparently were Megan's friends.
Sure, the social network is not guilty for the girl's suicide but did you know that in order to become a MySpace member you have to be at least 14 years old? That's right, Megan was 13 so how did she manage to create an account? Only God knows the answer.
Tina Meier, Megan's mother, told AP that they received a message from Josh who said he found out from Megan's friends that she's a bad person and he doesn't want to talk with her anymore. The mother asked Megan to log off but the daughter complained that somebody who used Josh's account or even him posted insulting messages about her. "Megan Meier is a slut. Megan Meier is fat," the messages read according to AP.
Megan was found in her room with a message from Josh displayed on the monitor. She died the next day. AP reports that Megan "suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder," which could be the only explanation for her decision to kill herself. However, it's new evidence that kids must be protected from such services as they may have a pretty serious impact over them.