Web Despair – Websites encouraging suicides

Internet predators are on the prowl. Sometime back I remember reading a news piece about a former nurse from Minnesota who sought out depressed people online and encouraged them to commit suicide. He got convicted but his counsel’s point of argument was that internet postings, emails and online chats are modes to express free speech and it does not indicate direct participation.

Truly evil are the websites that that push vulnerable people to commit suicide. The sites are easily available through search engines. These sites give advice on suicide methods, they often direct to chat rooms occupied by suicidal people, thus crafting an environment where suicide is considered a normal act, something to be supported.

These sites not only dole out information for suicide but advise on how to write suicide notes, they enlist varieties of poisons, details of how to obtain them and chronicle side effects of poison. Some highly graphic videos demonstrate how to hang and how to tie the noose. The macabre part is there are many news groups and bulletin boards on the net which positively advocate suicide and discourage individuals from seeking psychiatric help. In gruesome case in some forums there are live castings of such acts.

The malicious reach of the website is now high in India and tremendous amongst youngsters. In low times the escape route is often the internet and these websites can prove like an aid or catalyst as they illustrate that suicide is the best escape route. The internet offers factual advice which is accessible within seconds; this is particularly dangerous for young people, who often work on impulse. The worst part is that some of the websites are said to operate in a secretive way and pass themselves off as ‘support’ sites. The law may also struggle with how to address which website is support and which is encouragement.  Blocking all the websites is difficult but one suggestion is automatically directing any searches on suicide to online help centers.  Internet service providers and search engines like Google and Yahoo say they cannot block these websites and forums unless they are made illegal by the Government.

As parents or family members we need to be better informed and well read about these prevalent websites.  There are plenty of cyber patrolling software available so if ever in doubt take the aid of these tools to monitor or be aware of websites being accessed.  These tools give instant alerts, monitor chat programs, can also filter the web with preset or customized data and enable safer searches on search engines.

My opinion is that types of forums that allow talk and planning of suicide should be blocked or banned.  A law needs to be formed to tackle such websites which promulgate suicides. Please share your view points.