Which modern phenomenon has been linked to suicides?
A) Cyberbullying
B) Social media
C) Internet
D) Cell phones

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomena of taunting individuals who appear to be contemplating suicide was documented as early as the 1920s (Mann, 1981). This taunting usually occurred when people who were contemplating jumping to their deaths were in a public place with a crowd. Mann suggested that crowd size, leading to anonymity, and adverse temperatures may lead to taunting. Mann also suggested that a lengthy waiting time to observe the conclusion (i.e., the person threatening to jump is indecisive over a prolonged period) also may lead to taunting, as the crowd becomes impatient while awaiting the event's conclusion. This phenomenon seems to have evolved with the advent of social media. More recently, cyberbullying (Milosevic & Livingstone, 2018) and taunting by phone have been linked to suicides (Harvard Law Review, 2018). This new type of taunting will need to be monitored and prevention initiatives modified to address this suicide threat. Suicide is a public health problem that requires evolving community-based prevention strategies.

Which Modern Phenomenon Has Been Linked to Suicides