Internet Suicide

Internet can be used for both good and bad. In the latest shocker few Chinese students are instigating their peers to commit mass suicide.

Times of India writes on 26 November 2009

Police in Hong Kong are trying to trace the founder of a Chinese-language Facebook group whose members claim to be planning a mass suicide on December 21.

The investigation was triggered after a 15-year-old member of the group was stopped by friends as she tried to throw herself off the roof of a Hong Kong school a fortnight ago. Police found she was one of 190 people who had signed up to the Facebook group called “I have to practise suicide”. The group has been removed from the popular social networking site.

Members shared tips on the best ways to kill themselves and goaded each other to join in the mass suicide.

A social worker who interviewed the suicidal schoolgirl alerted police. Some reports in newspapers on Wednesday said the group had been disbanded while others quoted members saying that a core “suicide team” remained active.

Headmasters from 35 schools have been advised on how to monitor students for any signs that they may be involved, police said.