A devastated mother has spoken out about the tragic death of her 12-year-old daughter, who took her own life on December 29 after being relentlessly bullied online. Adiel Boyd, from Australia, had been the target of constant online harassment, which her mother, Victoria, said played a major role in her daughter's heartbreaking decision.
A bright and talented student at Aitkenvale State School, Mrs Adiel was the youngest of four children. Described by her mother as a “remarkable little girl,” Ms. Adiel excelled academically and musically. She played several instruments and spoke three languages. Victoria Boyd described her daughter as “almost perfection” and said her warmth and intelligence had an impact on everyone she met. But behind her achievements and loving nature, Ms Adiel struggled with the devastating effects of online bullying.
Victoria Boyd spoke of her deep concern about the dangers of social media, a space where parents often struggle to intervene. “Children get lost in social media, it is the most dangerous tool for a parent,” she said, acknowledging how difficult it was to monitor Ms Adiel's online interactions.
The bullying, which also took place on school grounds, revolved around jealousy and cruelty, her mother said. Victoria Boyd said the pre-teen was bullied by her friends for being “too pretty” and the harassment became overwhelming. “She just couldn't understand it,” Victoria Boyd added.
Ms Adiel's older sister Tameka had started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and support the grieving family. The campaign has already raised more than $13,286 (Rs 11.3 lakh), and Tameka described her sister as someone who “left a birthmark on everyone she knew in her twelve short years of life.”
Last year, a 10-year-old boy died by suicide in Indiana, US, after persistent bullying at school. His family revealed that the bullying had started with mocking his glasses and teeth and had escalated to physical abuse, including being beaten up on the school bus and having his glasses broken. The bullying continued online, with threatening text messages. Despite the family reporting the harassment to the school several times, the situation had not improved. The boy's parents believed bullying, specifically an incident in a school bathroom, led to his tragic decision.