Thank You Tina Meier
Megan Taylor Meier (November 6,1992 - October 17,2006) died of suicide by hanging herself three weeks before her fourteenth birthday. The reason? Cyber-bullying.
Megan's story sends shivers down my spine. Not unlike many teens in 2006, Megan opened at MySpace account. She received a message from a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans. Josh claimed to have recently moved to a town nearby, was homeschooled, and did not have cell phone yet. The two exchanged messages frequently. In the beginning Josh made Megan feel alive, but eventually it would be Josh who would cause Megan to take her life.
Josh Evans was not a real person. The account used to torture Megan was created by Lori Drew, the mother of one of Megan's friends. Lori, along with others including her fellow employees and children, intended to use Meier's messages sent to Josh to get information about her and later humiliate her.
On Monday, October 16, 2006 Megan took her life by hanging herself. The last message sent by Josh read: "Everybody in O'Fallon knows who you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you. Have a shitty rest of your life, The world would be a better place without you."
While I have given you a short account of Megan's story, I would encourage you to read her entire story here.
The Megan Meier Foundation was founded in December of 2007 by Tina Meier, Megan's mother. Her devotion and passion towards this foundation is simply put, beautiful. Tina lost her daughter and now will stop at nothing to make sure that no other child has to endure what Megan did. It is the Foundation's mission to "bring awareness, education and promote positive change to children, parents and educators in response to the issues surrounding bullying and cyberbullying". It is her goal to celebrate individuality and the acceptance of others. Although the world was cruel to her, she is working tirelessly to make a change and create a safer and kinder world.
Most people don't take a negative and change it into a positive. Tina Meier found a way to do that. It is thanks to her that their have been fewer suicides due to cyber-bullying. I find it frightening that it is so easy to sit behind a screen and ruin someone's life. I believe that people bully online because they believe that their actions won't have immediate responses. If you say something rude to someone in person they may punch you in the face, but a computer screen won't do that. Today people can sit in the comfort of their own homes and harass others. Some may take cyber-bullying as a joke, but when you write something online you never know how someone may perceive it. I think the problem with society today is that we don't realize the potential we hold to effect others lives and the power the technology gives us to do so.
ABC Family made a movie, Cyberbully, that is loosely related to Megan Meier's story. I would highly recommend watching it. The movie does a fantastic job discussing all of the prominent issues with cyber-bullying today, including anonymity, legal loopholes that enable cyber-bullying, fpr example why Lori Drew was not charged with the murder of Megan Meier, peer pressure that teens feel to be a part of social media and digital relationship, and the distraught emotions cyber-bullying inflicts on its victims and families. The movie brings light to the life behind the screen.
Once again, I would highly recommend looking at the Megan Meier Foundation started by Tina Meier. If you are a parent reading this post, please make your children aware of cyber-bullying and if you see any issues arising please seek extra support and guidance for your child. Tina Meier has provided you with the necessary information and support to help your child. If you have been bullied or want to help with Tina's cause please join the Foundation. Every person in the world holds the power to make a difference. Your story or your support can go further than you even know.
My deepest condolences go out to the entire Meier family for their loss. Rest in peace Megan.
Thank you Tina Meier. Thank you for staying strong. Thank you for spreading awareness about cyber-bullying. Thank you for helping people to realize that they are not alone.
