14 Year Old New York City-Area Teen Takes His Own Life After Being Taunted Via Facebook For Perceived Sexual Orientation; Facebook Releases Statement

MYFOXNY is reporting that 14 year old Kameron Jacobsen of Monroe Woodbury High School in Orange County, New York, committed suicide Tuesday after enduring harassment over his perceived sexual orientation, tormented by bullies via Facebook. It is not known how long the bullying took place for and what steps, if any were taken to battle back against the harassment. Facebook responded to Jacoben’s suicide, issuing a statement that reads in part “We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of these students, and our hearts go out to their family and friends. These cases serve as a painful reminder of how people can help others who are either bullied or show signs of distress on Facebook. We encourage them to notify us, and we work with third party support groups including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to reach out to people who may need help. Our Safety Center also contains resources on how to help people who are in danger of harming themselves. These deaths are a loss to many, and it’s critical that we all work together to give hope to teens who may be feeling similarly.”