Megan Meier Story

Who is responsible for Megan's Death? Is the people who created the factitious character "Josh", Megan's parents, MySpace? Is anyone else responsible?

Though true Megan took her own life, I do you agree with her parents that she was provoked? The intent of the creation of the Josh character and/or the MySpace account does not in my opinion release the Drew's from any responsibility in this matter. The argument being, if the account had never been created - No correspondence would have taken place,  and no suggestion to Megan that "..the world would be a better place without her in it." would have been written, or received.

I do believe according to the Drew's attorney, the mother of the girl knew Megan did suffer from ADHD (and though he denied it BiPolar Disorder). Also knowing that she had another 18 year old create the 'false' account does not in my opinion provide removed protection from responsibility as well.

Liability for Megan's death cannot be place on the medium (MySpace), just as the manufacture of a car is not responsible for the accidental death of someone, where the driver of the vehicle made or took action that resulted in another's fatality. I do believe however, that in this case, there should have been enough addition evidence to suggest that the Drew's might be held to an indictment of Manslaughter, in the same way a person operating a motor vehicle accidentally caused a fatality by misuse or oversight.

Realize that at the time Megan Meier set up her MySpace account she was under the minimum age that the MySpace required to participate in the website. Should there be some way to required age authentication? Would this violate any laws, amendment rights, personal privacy issues.?

Terms of Service (TOS) or use for Websites like MySpace are posted and clear. They require the user to acknowldege and agree to abide by those terms (and if they cannot, they are suppose to not use the site). Of course the TOS disclaimers provide protection for the company itself and not necessarily the users of the online system, however there is no real way that a site like this can verify age and identity. As an example, both my kids had a MySpace account long before they were sixteen. I did not encourage this, but created my own account as to provide some oversight as to their online activities - and even those of their "friends".

As a parent, I feel it is my place to help guide, protect and direct my childrens' behaviors online. Realizing how much of a bullseye MySpace was to cyber hackers, petifiles and the like - I encouraged my children/teens to move to Facebook - where most of our immediate, extended family and friends congregate. They did and shut down their MySpace profiles.

But it's just not Social Media site we as parents need to be aware of:

I remember once instance a few years back an instance a couple years back where my daughter was being approached by a young man that attended her high school, that enitiated a Chat session late at night and mistook me for her. Though I insited that I was not infact her, the he was chatting with her father - he continued to act in disbelief and was coy. He continued with pressing his agenda (which became clear after reviewing previous chat histories between he and her, and her other friends) and became overtly sexual. Finally after continuing to insure him that I was not infact her, I suggested that I would call him "give me your cell number".

He did. And I called. Spoke to him directly and suggested that because of the information his MySpace provided I knew what grade he was in at school, what classes he shared with my daughter, where he lived and that if he continued to be aggressive and could not monitor his own chat language and intent - that I'd do it for him.

As not to embarrass my daughter, I told her about the conversation/chat the previous night prior to her going to school the next morning. Word spread fast, at school about it and the boy was shamed by his peers (at least for a time). Now they are good friends and laugh about it.

My point being, it is a parent's responsibility to monitor and stay aware of their children's Internet activities. There are some things that can be done to help with this, but having a MySpace or FaceBook account and requiring open access to your child's postings and activities is necessary. This doesn't mean, however that parents should interject, post or befriend on your child's behalf.

What Lori Drew did, or allowed her children to do was in principle wrong, however at that time there were no laws in place to help prevent the eventual result. The medium and technology new, people must realize that as parents we have an obligation to provide guidance and oversight. The fact is we are still in the process of raising young adults.

There is nothing that requires parents to feel obligated to not expect that with the privilege of allowing their children or teens having a MySpace, FaceBook or Social Media account that they too have a responsibility in providing oversight as to the teen's behaviors online in the same way we provide the privilege of something like driving the family car.


For more information on the Megan Meier Story review the Today Show Interview here