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, the Guardian reported. Here’s what happened:

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

But the story doesn’t end here. Following the incident, Malaysian lawyer and politician Ramkarpal Singh is now 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 the Instagram poll could be guilty of abetting suicide.

“Would the girl still be alive today if the majority of netizens on her Instagram account discouraged her from taking her own life? Would she have heeded the advice of netizens to seek professional help had they done so?” Singh said.

READ | Instagram influencer bursts into tears after her account with hundreds of thousands of followers gets deleted

“Did the encouragement 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 added.

Instagram spokesperson Ching Yee Wong extended condolences to the deceased woman’s family. This is what Wong had 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 they see any behaviour that puts people’s safety at risk.”

READ | Instagram users risk their lives for 'perfect Instagram moment' while hanging out of a moving train

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

However, this problem is clearly not limited to one specific app or the county. Recently, a class IX student committed suicide after his parents scolded him for playing PUBG Mobile. Now, this is the extent to which the addiction and emotional reliance of smartphone apps and games have reached.