Does Technology Play a Role in Teen Suicide?
Suicide: noun 1. The taking of one’s own life 2. Deliberately killing oneself
Suicide is a permanent solution more often than not to a temporary problem, and sadly over the past ten years the number of teen suicides has risen. How much of a factor is new technology in this rise is hotly debated by parents and psychologist the world over. “The debate is not about how technological advancements like smart phones and high-speed internet and their availability to young people have changed the very fiber of how young people socialize as compared to even five years ago, but in how much it (technology) truly plays in teen suicides.”(Dr. Kashyap MD). Most young people have a cell phone and most have texting; many even have access to the internet through their phones. They can send pictures and update their social networking pages, like Facebook from anywhere and at any time, this is where problems seem to arise. Teens can be ruthless on sites such as Formspring.com, a controversial site where comments are posted anonymously. This sight made headlines earlier this year when it was linked to a teen suicide. People will say things that they would never say to someone’s face when the fear of being identified is removed (Stevenson). So how is this technology being linked to the rise in teen suicide? Miner things like tripping over seemingly nothing and falling on your face, or the fact that you stuttered when you tried to talk to that really cute guy/girl can and very often are caught on someone’s digital phone. It is then sent to other students and may even find its way onto the internet. Something that at first was only witnessed by a few now has the possibility of being seen by thousands. It can now be talked and laughed about for days, weeks and even months, extending the embarrassment and humiliation over the same extended time period. Sometimes this extended period of embarrassment becomes seemingly unbearable. It seems that the worst time for bullying is
Suicide is a permanent solution more often than not to a temporary problem, and sadly over the past ten years the number of teen suicides has risen. How much of a factor is new technology in this rise is hotly debated by parents and psychologist the world over. “The debate is not about how technological advancements like smart phones and high-speed internet and their availability to young people have changed the very fiber of how young people socialize as compared to even five years ago, but in how much it (technology) truly plays in teen suicides.”(Dr. Kashyap MD). Most young people have a cell phone and most have texting; many even have access to the internet through their phones. They can send pictures and update their social networking pages, like Facebook from anywhere and at any time, this is where problems seem to arise. Teens can be ruthless on sites such as Formspring.com, a controversial site where comments are posted anonymously. This sight made headlines earlier this year when it was linked to a teen suicide. People will say things that they would never say to someone’s face when the fear of being identified is removed (Stevenson). So how is this technology being linked to the rise in teen suicide? Miner things like tripping over seemingly nothing and falling on your face, or the fact that you stuttered when you tried to talk to that really cute guy/girl can and very often are caught on someone’s digital phone. It is then sent to other students and may even find its way onto the internet. Something that at first was only witnessed by a few now has the possibility of being seen by thousands. It can now be talked and laughed about for days, weeks and even months, extending the embarrassment and humiliation over the same extended time period. Sometimes this extended period of embarrassment becomes seemingly unbearable. It seems that the worst time for bullying is
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