Public Opinion regarding Youth, Social Media and Suicide

• In Event: Youth & Social Media: What Do We Really Know about "Cyber-Bullying"?

Abstract

This study explores public perceptions regarding the connection between the use of social media/technology and suicide among young people. It is based on a random telephone survey of approximately 150 members of the public in Ontario, Canada. The study utilizes fictional vignettes based on incidents that have been widely reported in mainstream media to ascertain the public’s level of concern regarding victimization, suicide and the use of social media/technology. It attempts to understand how the framing and public narrative around victimizations are often changed over time to be about the dangers of “cyber-bullying”.

Authors

• Michael Perkins, University of Ontario Institute of Technology

• Carla Cesaroni, University of Ontario Institute of Technology