Why do teenagers take the internet and cyberbullying so seriously? Background: I saw this post on the daily Mirror: A girl committed suicide because some users bullied her on ask.fm. I signed up to see what that site is, and it was some Q&amp;A site. So she committed suicide just because someone bullied her, someone she doesn't know, maybe a bot! 
That article said that many other teens did the same.  

I'm broadly interested in why do teens in particular take the internet so seriously.
As Sherry Turkle said, we're connected but alone. And she said that the internet is all about sex, lies and avatars.

Questions


Why do teenagers take the Internet so seriously?
Is it because they are attached too much to the internet?
Are they trying to escape real life by building virtual worlds?
Is there any study research on this?
I would like to begin by saying this answer is based on my opinion. All the statements I make are conclusions I have drawn and may or may not have merit.




Firstly, it is unlikely the cyber bullying would be the main cause of someone to suicide. The underlying reasons for suicide run deeper than this.  I believe their problems ran far deeper than recent external events. Of course, bullying will not help a person in deep depression, and could assist in pushing someone close to the edge, however, I think the whole process behind someone committing suicide takes more thought and a deep level of depression (endogenous or otherwise).  





It seems social networking and certainly the internet, has involved many people, of a varying age range.  From the conflicts that ensue all over the internet, it is not limited to teenagers.



  The fastest growing segment of social media users is now adults aged 45-54%.





The problem with teenagers, is they have less experience at handling their emotions and reactions (just by the mere fact of years of experience due to age alone), coupled with soaring hormone changes. Most would agree puberty and the ensuing years of a person's development are challenging for both the person and those around them. 

This leaves the teenager as likely to be:
More impulsive.
More affected by others behaviour.  





People who are "content" and occupied in their "real lives" do not seek to "build" and find solace in a "virtual" life.




I think cyber relationships serve many purposes and the dynamic of human interaction has developed, so that the group mentality is magnified. The anonymity and perceived (and in many ways real) freedom of consequence of user expression online has enabled a level of what (at least was until recently) socially unacceptable behaviour. A bravado and propensity for abuse that may not be present when two people are face to face in a local car park or shopping centre.

Having said that, the school playground can be a tough one, for ostracising children and bullying. I believe that face to face confrontations have a greater impact than those online. 

I believe much of our emotional reactions to our online experience are charged with the emotion of our "real life" experience. Let's face it, we are communicating with faceless people. Psychologically this would be a less powerful experience. Another way of saying "Art imitating life". 

Having said that,   a young person at higher risk of suicide, may well turn to the internet to find friends and support. 


  Factors that increase the risk of suicide among teens include:
  
  
  lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation
  




So, in conclusion:
 I don't believe teenagers are destroying their lives, whilst building virtual lives. (this was the title of the question when I posted my answer)  

I believe that :  


with real life trials
with the propensity within a young person for depression and
potential suicide
with the mitigating factors that may increase the likelihood for a person
to commit suicide
and the loosened boundaries found over the internet.


Our teenagers are in danger of being badly affected by their virtual lives.