These days it has become a daily habit among youngsters to update personal status on Facebook, without the least thought of its impact on the lives of others. Off late status on break ups at Facebook and other social networking sites is on the rise.
The recent suicide case of Malini Murmu proves the vulnerability of this practice. This 22 year old IIM-B student hanged herself to death after reading her boyfriend Abhishek’s status on Facebook after an unsuccessful love affair.
The status read that he has dumped his new ex-girlfriend and he is feeling super cool and independent. Abhishek had updated this status after having a fight and breaking up with Malini. Unable to face this public embarrassment on Facebook, Malini decided to end her life. She was so depressed after being dumped by her boyfriend that she started skipping classes.
Noticing her absence, Malini’s classmates went to her room. They knocked and even called her name but she did not respond. At last the security guard broke the door and found her hanging. It has clearly been mentioned in her suicide note that she has decided to end her life solely because her boyfriend had dumped her and updated his status message on Facebook.
Bangalore is known as the suicide capital of India and majority of the cases are because of failed love affairs.
It is high time that educational institutes should organize counselling meetings on social networking, its advantages, disadvantages and the etiquettes that need to be followed to prevent such pitiable cases in the future.
