Whenever I think about teens and cutting, my heart really aches. Sadly, my 13-year-old daughter has experience with two good friends of hers cutting themselves. I’m so thankful that she shared this with me because it gave us a good opportunity to really talk about why her friends were doing it and what the repercussions could be.
According to a study put out by “Pediatrics,” there is an alarming new trend happening…teens and young adults are putting out “YouTube” videos that actually demonstrate how to harm themselves through cutting, burning and other forms of self-harm.
This is just sickening to think that teens are not only doing this to themselves but they are willing to show other kids how to do it. The potential of this turning into something tragic is just too high.
I also believe that by posting these types of videos it might cause a teen that would not have otherwise thought about cutting, potentially begin to consider it. It may come across as being “glamorized.”
I will be the first to admit that I just can’t understand cutting. I know that it’s done as a way to cope with hurt, stress and devastation in a teen’s life but I fail to see how bringing harm to oneself helps.
In my opinion these videos should be taken off “YouTube.” Already some of the “top” cutting videos have seen more than 2 million views. What’s even more frightening is that viewers have been rating these videos with high marks, the average being 4.6 out of 5.
“YouTube” has said that they can’t possibly monitor all of the videos that go up on their site. They more or less rely on viewers to flag videos so that their employees can evaluate it.
Well something has to be done. This is just plain wrong. It is sickening and it breaks my heart that teens can access ways to harm themselves.
I think there needs to be more discussions about cutting…not just from parents but I think starting in middle school this needs to be addressed. Unfortunately not all kids will have parents who will talk to them about these things so the schools can help.
What do YOU think we can do to help deal this problem?
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