Ask.fm to aid online ‘bullying’ death probe
Hannah Smith, 14, died on Friday after being “cyberbullied” on Ask.fm, her father Dave said.
The question-and-answer site allows users to send messages to one another without their identity being disclosed.
Hannah, from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, was found dead in her bedroom by her sister Jo, 16, after being cruelly taunted by online bullies, Mr Smith said.
A spokeswoman for Ask.fm said the company encourages users to report any instances of abuse.
She said in a statement: “Hannah Smith’s death is a true tragedy; we would like to convey our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
“We have reached out to the Leicestershire police and would be happy to co-operate with their investigation into the true circumstances of her suicide.
“Ask.fm actively encourages our users and their parents to report any incidences of bullying, either by using the in-site reporting button, or via our contact page. All reports are read by our team of moderators to ensure that genuine concerns are heard and acted upon immediately and we always remove content reported to us that violates our Terms of Service.”
But Mr Smith, 45, has called on British Prime Minister David Cameron to put regulations in place on social networking websites like Ask.fm, where users can be anonymous, to try to prevent another tragedy.
He is urging the authorities to close down the site, and those like it, after stumbling across cruel taunts from so-called “trolls” which he said drove his daughter to take her own life.
Speaking from his home, Mr Smith told the Leicester Mercury: “Websites like this are bullying websites because people can be anonymous.
“If I had not spoken up about this, another teenager could be dead next week.
“Ask.fm and sites like these are making millions out of people’s misery and it is wrong.
“I would appeal to David Cameron as a prime minister and a father to look at this to make sure these sites are properly regulated so bullying of vulnerable people like my daughter cannot take place.
“I don’t want other parents to go through what I am going through.”
Mr Smith found a note written by Hannah which read “I wonder if it’s ever going to get better”, the Daily Mirror reported.
Mr Smith, a lorry driver, said: “We sleep downstairs now.
“Since this happened I have only had three hours’ sleep a night. I want this to be sorted out as soon as possible so no other vulnerable children die.
“Hannah was a bubbly, happy person.
“She was colourful, she was a normal teenager and was very, very happy.
“For Hannah to do something like this... We never expected this. We never saw any signs of her doing this.
“I have now got to concentrate on burying my daughter. I need to be left alone to bury her and to grieve properly for her.”
Nora Parker, headteacher at Lutterworth High School, where Hannah was a student, said the staff and students were deeply upset at hearing news of her death.
She said: “The governors, staff, and students of Lutterworth High School were deeply shocked and saddened to learn the news that on 2nd August Hannah Smith, a Year 9 student, took her own life.
“Hannah, who just completed her final year at the school and was looking to transfer to Lutterworth College in August, was a bright, bubbly, popular, and thoughtful girl who was liked and respected by all those she came into contact with.
“She had everything to live for and her family, who are utterly devastated, are at a loss to understand why this has happened.”
Ms Parker said she spoke for the whole school when she said that everyone who knew Hannah was shattered by the tragedy and trying to come to terms with the enormity of what had happened.
“The responses of so many of her friends and teachers to the news of her death emphasises how much she meant to them and how greatly she will be missed.
“Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and prayers go out to all Hannah’s family and friends at this terribly sad time.”
A Facebook tribute page has been set up for Hannah, called RIP Hannah Smith, and already has more than 19,000 “likes’.
It says on the page: “Hannah Smith; a beautiful young girl who everyone loved very much; who decided to take her own life after being bullied; we will miss you princess; loveyou.”
Although people wanting to use Ask.fm have to register an email address, name and date of birth, those posting messages can choose to do so anonymously.
Hannah’s death echoes that of 16-year-old Jessica Laney, who was found dead at her home in Florida in December after users on social networking sites tormented her with insults and asked: “Can you kill yourself already?”
Laura Mckay, from Skipton, writing on the Change.org petition set up in Jessica’s memory, said: “I’ve been bullied on ask.fm and been told to kill myself many times. It’s easy for people to hide behind and bully and it needs to be stopped.”
Sharon Sully, from Cumbria, said: “How many more young lives have to be lost before it’s [ask.fm] closed down?”
Hannah’s death comes amid a growing row about the policing of social media after rape and even bomb threats were made to high-profile female media personalities on Twitter.
Television classicist Mary Beard said she has received numerous “threats of violence and death” on the social media site in recent days.
Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman, Independent columnist Grace Dent, and Europe editor of Time magazine Catherine Mayer, are among other women who have suffered similar threats.
Labour MP Stella Creasy has received threats of rape on Twitter and was this week sent a picture of a masked man brandishing a large knife.
The internet troll warned her: “I’m gonna be the first thing u see when u wake up”.
Victims say such threats goes beyond just abuse and has led to calls for Twitter to do more to protect users from bullying and harm.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
