Suicide of Megan Meier

Suicide of Megan Meier

The suicide of Megan Meier is a tragic event that occurred in October 2006, which drew international attention to the issues of cyberbullying and the effects of social media on young people's mental health. Megan Taylor Meier, a 13-year-old girl from Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, took her own life by hanging three weeks before her 14th birthday. Her suicide was attributed to the severe emotional distress caused by a hoax perpetrated through the social networking website MySpace.

Background

Megan had been struggling with attention deficit disorder and depression for several years and had transferred schools to escape bullying. In 2006, she created a MySpace account with her parents' permission, where she believed she had begun an online relationship with a 16-year-old boy named "Josh Evans." However, "Josh Evans" was a fictional character created by Lori Drew, the mother of a former friend of Megan's, with the assistance of at least one other individual. The account was created to gain Megan's trust and then humiliate her.

The Hoax

The communication between Megan and "Josh" lasted for several weeks, during which Megan became emotionally invested in the relationship. In October 2006, the tone of the messages from "Josh" abruptly changed, becoming hostile and demeaning. The final message sent to Megan from the "Josh" account stated that the world would be better off without her. Distraught, Megan took her own life on October 17, 2006.

Aftermath

Megan's parents were initially unaware of the true identity behind "Josh Evans." The revelation that the account was a hoax created by adults, including a parent from Megan's former circle of friends, led to widespread public outrage. The case highlighted the lack of laws addressing cyberbullying and the need for social media platforms to take responsibility for the safety of their users.

Legal and Legislative Responses

The local law enforcement initially found it difficult to press charges due to the absence of applicable cyberbullying laws. However, the case prompted significant legal and legislative actions. Lori Drew was eventually indicted on federal charges under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, though the convictions were later overturned on appeal.

In response to the tragedy, several states in the United States passed laws specifically targeting cyberbullying. The case also influenced the creation of the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act, proposed federal legislation aimed at criminalizing the use of electronic means to cause severe emotional distress.

Impact

The suicide of Megan Meier remains a pivotal moment in the ongoing discussion about cyberbullying and its consequences. It has led to increased awareness and efforts to combat online harassment, including educational programs and changes in social media policies to prevent similar tragedies.

See Also

• Cyberbullying
• Social media and suicide
• Laws against cyberbullying