Life or death? Instagram user commits suicide after 69 per cent followers vote for death in Instagram poll

In a shocking incident, a 16-year-old Instagram user ended her life after she asked her follower to choose life or death in Instagram poll and 69 per cent voted for death, Guardian reported. Here’s what happened:

This incident happened in east Malaysia state Sarawak. According to Police, girl posted poll on Instagram with mess: “Really Important, Help Me Choose D/L.” After majority of responders (69 per cent) voted for “death,” girl committed suicide.

But story doesn’t end here. Following incident, Malaysian lawyer and politician Ramkarpal Singh is w blaming those who voted for “death” in Instagram poll. Singh who is MP for Bukit Gelugor, Penang, suggested that those who voted for death in Instagram poll could be guilty of abetting suicide.

“Would girl still be alive today if majority of netizens on her Instagram account discourd her from taking her own life? Would she have heeded vice of netizens to seek professional help h y done so?” Singh said.

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“Did encourment of those netizens actually influence her decision to take her own life? Since attempted suicide is an offence in this country, it follows that abetting one to attempt suicide may be, too,” Singh ded.

Instagram spokesperson Ching Yee Wong extended condolences to deceased woman’s family. This is what Wong h to say:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with this young woman’s family. We have a deep responsibility to make sure people using Instagram feel safe and supported. As part of our own efforts, we urge everyone to use our reporting tools and to contact emergency services if y see any behaviour that puts people’s safety at risk.”

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diction to social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and ir psychological influence raises concerns about overall role and impact of se apps in our lives. Syed Sdiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s youth and sports minister, said that this incident highlights need for national-level discussions about mental health in country.

However, this problem is clearly t limited to one specific app or county. Recently, a class IX student committed suicide after his parents scolded him for playing PUBG Mobile. w, this is extent to which diction and emotional reliance of smartphone apps and games have reached.