Amanda Michelle Todd was born on November 27, 1996. Amanda had a love for singing, art, and animals. Her favorite color was purple, and she often went out of her way to perform kind acts for others, hoping to make the world a better place. Amanda was only 15 years old when she lost her life to the impact of cyberbullying.

Despite moving to new schools, the harassment continued. Her abuser created fake Facebook profiles to reach her new classmates, spreading the photo and sending cruel messages. This led Amanda to struggle with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, and she turned to alcohol, drugs, and self-harm to cope.

On October 10, 2012, Amanda took her own life. Her video went viral after her death, sparking important conversations all over the world about the dangers of cyberbullying and the need for kindness, empathy, and support in our online and offline communities.

Amanda’s story emphasized the impact of cyberbullying, its devastating effects on young people, and the need for greater awareness and action to protect individuals from online harm.

Cyberbullying is a growing problem in this digital age, with countless individuals, especially teens, experiencing harassment, threats, and exploitation on social media and other online spaces. The anonymity of the internet can empower bullies to act without consequence.

Although Amanda is one tragedy out of many, and cyberbullying laws exist in some states, there are no federal laws that address bullying or cyberbullying.

Now, more than ever, we need to advocate for a culture of kindness, empathy, and respect.