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Suicide Spurs Cyber Safeguards Call

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2007

DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo. - Megan Meier thought she had made a new friend in cyberspace when a teenage boy named Josh contacted her on MySpace and began exchanging messages with her.

Megan, a 13-year-old who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder, corresponded with Josh for more than a month before he abruptly ended their friendship, telling her he had heard she was cruel.

The next day Megan committed suicide. Her family learned later that Josh never existed; he was created by members of a neighborhood family that included a former friend of Megan's.

Now Megan's parents hope the people who made the fraudulent profile on the Web site will be prosecuted, and they are seeking legal changes to safeguard children.

The girl's mother, Tina Meier, said she doesn't think anyone involved intended for her daughter to kill herself.

The Associated Press

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