In this day and age, the outburst of various cutting-edge technologies has engendered a grave concern about the mass media. A school of thought believe that it is advisable to prohibit suicidal news on the digital platform, whereas others hold the view that journalists are under no obligation to report every incident. From my perspective, both standpoints are reasonable as they have their own merits.
On the one hand, it is indisputable that suicide-related topic spells trouble for youngsters’ growth. First and foremost, suicidal events irrefutably take a toll on teenagers’ psychological health as they cause a sense of fright or fear to the readers. Consequently, if young people overexpose this source of information, they will be prone to mental breakdowns such as depression or anxiety. Another rationale is that news involving suicide undoubtedly wield detrimental influences on juvenile cognitive development. It can be explained by the fact that children aged from 13 to 17 years old are on their impressionable age. Therefore, there is a likelihood that a misconception of self-destruction will be formed, which probably culminates in a trend so-called suicide contagion.
On the other hand, it is my belief that journalism should be empowered to publish everything. Firstly, the mass demand for information ought to be taken into consideration. It is due to the fact that the world is changing rapidly with a wide range of events happening. This status quo gives a rise to a thirst for news that only the omnipresence of daily reports of all kinds can satisfy. Secondly, a constructive and informative message may be delivered to the young generation through suicidal stories. As a matter of fact, an article relating to suicide often comes along with an academic point of view about the reasons behind the lethal situation as well as the consequences. As a result, not only can young people heighten their awareness about self-slaughter but also get rid of being indulged in wrongdoings.
In conclusion, suicide presented in any media coverage should be banned as its adverse impacts on teenagers’ development. However, I opine that reporters can freely do their job on the ground of information demand and knowledge about suicide.