Where to Save a Life

A student from Empire High School shares how a social network user at the school helped convince a girl to get out of a dangerous home situation, and considers the value of a school social network.

March 23, 2011 -- The Internet has the answers to many questions, from “how to fix your sink" to “how to bake a cake.”

For those who are suicidal, abused, or having problems, the Internet can seem like a place to find solace. People have the opportunity to relate their issues and possibly find help. However, help may be found not only from the well-known self-help sources, but also through common social networking.

Social networks are familiar ground for most teenagers. It is not surprising to find personal information or rants from distressed students and peers. There may also be confessions of personal issues — such as abuse, suicidal thoughts, or disorders — left for the world to see. It is a call for help to a massive anonymous world that is unavailable without an Internet connection.

Using social networks as an outlet for these highly personal issues allows for unbiased help from this world. A story of help to an online stranger comes from Ocktober Pross, a junior at Empire High School. Pross frequented a chat room on an online gaming site.

He explained that a girl on there admitted to having some problems in her home. She did not, however, understand that these issues were a danger to her. Conditions in her home were unsafe, so Pross as well as other members of the chat stepped in.

“It was probably a period just around a week that we had to convince her that she needed to call CPS to get out of her home,” Pross explained. The stranger did end up seeking help and leaving her home for her own safety.

Pross believes that people would be more comfortable talking about problems on the Internet because, “They need somebody to turn to and they really don’t have a way to say it face-to-face with other people.”

While they may not be able to tell friends something in person, they can expose their feelings to someone online. This may feel safer for a person because these strangers online cannot see them or judge them. They also don't have any prior knowledge of their life.

“It’s just a way of getting the word out,” said Pross, “We’re in the day and age where we can communicate with someone on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds.” Pross goes on to say that social networks are helpful in this way. “…there are some people who really can’t communicate face-to-face. They get shy or it’s embarrassing … online you can communicate without feeling judged.”

Impromptu therapists may be able to save a life of someone somewhere through social networking. In a famous case, actress Demi Moore was able to save someone via her Twitter account. According to PsychologyToday.com, a woman discussed ending her life on Moore’s Twitter page. Moore and fellow Twitter followers were able to find her location and send police — a small fete with a massive impact.

The Internet and its many social networks allow people to broadcast their voice to the whole world without even leaving their seat. With so many anonymous do-gooders, it seems as if the cry for help might be heard better online than by a friend, school, or family. Social networks are there for those who need help.

If Empire High School had a social network, like a chat room, junior Robby Douglas believes that it could be an effective tool in preventing harm to students. However, Douglas believes that there is a chance for student abuse of a school chat room. “I’ve witnessed some very bad Internet issues with my friends. Yes, you can talk about issues and it could go around, but people can eavesdrop when you don’t want them too. It’s a win or lose situation,” said Douglas.

Douglas believes that a school chat room or a social network based on the students would be most beneficial if it were held on multiple severs. “Then maybe it could stay within friends.” The uses of a social network for Empire are apparent. However, there are chances for students to abuse the trust of other students, in which case a school social network could potentially do more harm than good.
 

Reference:

Sandler, Elana Premack. "Promoting Hope, Preventing Suicide." Weblog post. PsychologyToday.com. Sussex Publishers, LLC., 6 Apr. 2009. Web. 11 Jan. 2011.

About the author: Julianne Capati is a student at Empire Valley High School.

Source: Converge