Suicide of Amanda Todd

Suicide of Amanda Todd
A girl in her mid-teens holding a cut-out piece of paper or card with the words "I have nobody, I need someone" and a sad emoticon written on it.
A screenshot of Todd's YouTube video
DateOctober 10, 2012 (2012-10-10)
LocationPort Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
TypeSuicide by hanging
CauseOnline harassment and blackmail
BurialRobinson Memorial Park Cemetery, Coquitlam, Canada
InquestBritish Columbia Coroners Service
CoronerBarb McLintock[1]
ConvictedAydin Coban[2]
TrialJune 6, 2022 – August 5, 2022[3]
VerdictGuilty on all counts
Convictions
Sentence6 years in prison (reduced from 13 years)[6][7]

Amanda Michelle Todd (November 27, 1996 – October 10, 2012)[8][9] was a 15-year-old Canadian student and victim of cyberbullying who hanged herself at her home in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. A month before her death, Todd posted a video on YouTube in which she used a series of flashcards to tell her experience of being blackmailed into exposing her breasts via webcam on the livestreaming and online chat service Blogger,[5] and of being bullied and physically assaulted. The video went viral after her death,[10] resulting in international media attention. The original video has had more than 15 million views as of May 2023,[11] although mirrored copies of the video had received tens of millions of additional views shortly after her death; additionally, a YouTube video by React has a video of teens reacting to Todd's video which has garnered 44.7 million views as of May 2023,[12] and various videos from news agencies around the world regarding the case have registered countless millions more.[13][14][15][16] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and British Columbia Coroners Service launched investigations into the suicide.

In response to her death, then-Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark, made an online statement of condolence and suggested a national discussion on criminalizing cyberbullying.[17][18] A motion was also introduced in the Canadian House of Commons to propose a study of the scope of bullying in Canada and for more funding and support for anti-bullying organizations. Todd's mother, Carol, established the Amanda Todd Trust, receiving donations to support anti-bullying awareness education and programs for young people with mental health problems.

A Dutch-Turkish man, Aydin Coban, who was already imprisoned for sexual blackmail in the Netherlands, was extradited to Canada to face trial on charges of harassing and sexually extorting Todd before her suicide. On August 5, 2022, the jury found Coban guilty on all counts, and he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on October 14, 2022.[6] On December 21, 2023, a Dutch judge reduced his sentence to six years in prison.[7]

  1. ^ "Canadian teen found dead weeks after posting wrenching YouTube video detailing bullying". Fox News. Associated Press. October 12, 2012. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference CBC Coyban was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Trial of Dutch man charged in Amanda Todd cyberbullying case to begin Monday". CBC. Karin Larsen, Yvette Brand. June 6, 2022. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ Judd, Amy (January 10, 2022). "B.C. judge rules Amanda Todd's name can be reported during cyberbullying trial". Global News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Hainsworth, Jeremy (April 18, 2014). "Dutch man's case linked to Amanda Todd". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014 – via MSN News.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference sentencing was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "Dutch man who sexually extorted B.C. teen Amanda Todd given 6-year sentence in Netherlands".
  8. ^ Cahute, Larissa (November 19, 2012). "Amanda Todd: Hundreds hear tributes from family, friends, teachers". The Province. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  9. ^ Martins, Monisha (November 18, 2012). "Amanda Todd celebrated in 'the birthday party she wanted'". Tri-City News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  10. ^ "Amanda Todd tribute honours life of bullied teen". CBC. Meera Bains. Calgary, CA. November 18, 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2012. After she died, the video gained worldwide recognition and registered more than six million hits, and copies of the video re-posted to YouTube have since gained at least 16 million additional hits.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ My story: Struggling, bullying, suicide, self harm, September 7, 2012, archived from the original on September 23, 2022, retrieved May 23, 2023
  12. ^ Teens React to Bullying (Amanda Todd), November 18, 2012, archived from the original on May 23, 2023, retrieved May 23, 2023
  13. ^ The Sextortion of Amanda Todd - the fifth estate, August 11, 2014, archived from the original on May 5, 2023, retrieved May 23, 2023
  14. ^ Amanda Todd: Bullied Teen Commits Suicide, October 12, 2012, archived from the original on May 23, 2023, retrieved May 23, 2023
  15. ^ Amanda Todd bullying arrest, April 17, 2014, archived from the original on May 16, 2023, retrieved May 23, 2023
  16. ^ Bullying Tragedy: Amanda Todd's Nightmare, October 23, 2012, archived from the original on October 8, 2022, retrieved May 23, 2023
  17. ^ "RCMP launch investigation into death of bullied BC teen". CTV News. Michele Brunoro. October 12, 2012. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. ^ Fowlie, Jonathan (October 13, 2012). "After Amanda Todd's death, Christy Clark says new laws may be needed to combat bullying". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.


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