Amanda Todd’s story of cyberbullying, extortion serves as launch point for youth social media debate in London

The mother of Amanda Todd, a teen who died by suicide after being cyberbullied, spoke in London during a panel discussion on social media. Sean Irvine reports.

The mother of Amanda Todd, the 15-year-old B.C. girl who died following two years of cyberbullying and exploitation, spoke in London on Friday.

Carol Todd was part of a panel discussing the impacts of social media on mental health, especially on young people.

Amanda died by suicide, just one month after posting a video online detailing the cyberbullying and extortion she had been living with for two years.

The video went viral following her death on Oct. 10, 2012.

On Friday, Carol shared Amanda’s legacy and life struggles.

“And this video was by no means a suicide note. This is a note for her to share, her story, the way it was in her life,” she told a crowd of Londoners attending the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation Breakfast of Champions.

A Dutch man who preyed on Amanda online faced courts and convictions in Canada and the Netherlands in relation to her death.

Carol had a chance to face him in court, but to this day, she contends it was social media posts from those who should have helped Amanda that led to her suicide.

“I think she would have gotten past the predator part, but it was her peers and the cyber-abusive behaviour and the harassment that did her in,” she explained.

Todd’s comments led to a presentation and panel discussion on the effects of social media on youth and mental health.

Dr. Bailey Parnell, a world-renowned expert on the subject, outlined its ups and downs.

She called social media a risky behaviour, like sex, drugs and alcohol, and added she would support limiting youth access.

“I am at the point where I just want to see something, and let us try it, and go and fix it,” she said.

But even with the loss of her daughter, Carol isn’t sure. When asked about a social media ban for those under 16 now in place in Australia, she said the issue requires a more multifaceted approach.

“I, for one, am not calling for a social media ban,” she said. “If you were to bring in age restrictions, you’d have to have other legislation and policies surrounding it, like regulating the tech companies.

Whatever is put into place, Carol believes Amanda’s legacy will play a role.

“She was dropped here to give us the message that no parent should ever lose their child through means of things that are preventable,” she said.