Facebook Suicide Case: Indian Minor Kills Self Over Facebook Ban; Should Social Networking Giant Disallow Underage Users?

An Indian girl, 17, committed suicide after her parents banned her from using Facebook because they thought spending time on the social networking site was distracting her from studies. The incident took place in Parbhani district of Maharashtra, India.  

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013, Aishwarya Dahiwal, a second year college student was reproached by her parents for excessive social media browsing and long calls to her friends. Thursday morning Aishwarya was found dead. The teenager committed suicide by hanging, sources close to investigation revealed.

Aishwarya had left a suicide note in which she stated that she is ending her life because her parents are not allowing her to use Facebook. Her father, Mr. Sunil Dahiwal expressed shock and grief, saying that he had not expected his daughter to take such an extreme step and kill her life.

While the incident highlights the alarming trend of rising suicide cases in India, especially amongst people in age group 15 to 35 years, it also questions whether Facebook's policy of allowing underage (13 to 18year olds) teenagers to create a profile is dangerous.

Recently, the social networking giant enabled the minor users to update their status, post photos, and activate 'followers' on their profile. Children privacy rights activists argue that underage teenagers are vulnerable to manipulation and unrestricted access to Facebook and all its features can expose them to a lot of risks, social, physical and psychological.

Rebecca Sedwick suicide case that allegedly involves cyber bullying by two girls, aged 12 and 14, is another case in point as to how social media exposure is harming the kids, one way or the other.

In case of the Indian girl Aishwarya Dahiwal, it can very well be the lack of communication between her and her parents, according to experts. They also opined that suicide resulting from recalcitrance over Facebook ban is a dangerous trend, lest should it become one.