Erin Gallagher, 13, Kills Self After Telling...

Erin Gallagher committed suicide over the weekend after being tormented over her looks and her weight on social networking websites.

Erin is the third high-profile suicide within the past month, which is quite worrying.

Apparently, Erin was being bullied online, like so many young kids these days. She even alluded to committing suicide just 24 hours before her death.

"U prob think it was funny when [I] f**in put a rope round my neck cause of yous [sic]," she wrote. The post was aimed at someone who was anonymous, which begs the question of whether or not Erin ever met her tormentor face-to-face.

If you read about Amanda Todd, you'll remember that her tormentor was someone in another state who wanted her to flash him and bullied her endlessly when she didn't do other things he asked.

It's sad when a child or teen can't even go online without being bullied. Years ago, the bullying was limited to schools and didn't extend to a child's home life. Obviously that has changed in a big way.

Do you think there is any way that social networking sites can help to end bullying and as a result stop more suicides? If only Erin Gallagher knew just how much more there was to life and how much she will be missed by her family and friends.

Comments: 6

Kerrell Goolsby Oct 30, 2012, 11:01pm UTC

It would have been nice if some adult stepped in and stopped this.

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G Your Posts Are Terrific Oct 30, 2012, 11:34pm UTC

that's sad, she was a pretty girl

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Franklin Newman Oct 31, 2012, 1:00am UTC

It's so sad, and sick. Perhaps the Internet should have filters so that, if people post certain words, the filter prevents the post.

August Lady Oct 31, 2012, 1:49am UTC

Sorry, but I'm with Franklin here~are there that many parents not knowing what their kids are doing online??? I kept pretty good tabs on my daughter, friending her on Facebook (that took some doing, I'll admit), even learning some of her codes, like CT, POS, GTG. This is so heartbreaking, and, becoming an epidemic!

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Buck Dharma Oct 31, 2012, 6:11am UTC

actually she is gorgouse but self perception is an issue. teens probably are more worried about it. generally i think on line bullies probably arent that bad of people when compared with "real life" physical bullies. im going to TRY and make sure to talk about this topic with my grandchildren. even though i cant get into their heads and actually change their perception about themselves simply by using child psychology and telling them they are beautiful and great all the time, i can discuss the reality of it simply not mattering what others think about ones looks.

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alba munoz Oct 31, 2012, 4:33pm UTC

cyberbullying is becoming a serious problem in our society. In any country in the world every day there are cases of these, and it is truly a shame. Parents must take action and not sit back. I use a software that allows me to see my children's online activity and I can detect if they are suffering any harassment in the network. Here is the link http://www.sassreport.com

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Erin Gallagher, 13, Kills Self After Telling Bullies She'll 'Put a Rope' Around Her Neck

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