This news deeply disturbs me. A young girl who might have had dreams and ambitions lost her life just because of her own ignorance. But when you come to think of it, she is not the only one responsible for her death. She was at a tender age when insecurities were obvious, and the same insecurity took her life.
Social media is in its prime age; it has become an inevitable part of human life.
Like any other technology, it has pros and cons, and the cons can be so serious that they can even lead to death.
This young girl took Borax (a mineral used in household cleaners, pesticides, home insulation, and flame retardants) to lose weight. She got this information from a YouTube video, according to the police.
Now, from the uses of borax itself, it can be assumed that it is not for human consumption.
It was banned in the UK and Europe in 2010 as the European Chemicals Agency and National Institutes of Health found that Borax has been associated with several health issues, such as irritation, hormone issues, toxicity, and even death.
And this was banning this mineral from laundry detergents and soaps, consuming it is far from the question.
Imagine someone posting a video on a public platform like YouTube saying that taking the same Borax will help you lose weight! It’s nothing less than a crime.
Ultimately, the video reached somebody who actually used it, maybe more than what was said, and succumbed to death.
The police did find this out, but I did not see any information about the video anywhere. The person who posted it should be criminally charged. Posting blunders and, most importantly, life-threatening advice on a public platform is a crime.
YouTube and other social media platforms should bring in a protocol to evaluate the authenticity of content before it is posted.
These kinds of videos, when found by the unaware and ignorant people, can have very serious consequences, as happened to this girl.
Losing the extra weight to become healthier is not unfavourable. It is the way you choose. There are no quick fixes, magical potions, or miracle drinks. It is all about movement, diet, and consistency. This should be done under the guidance of a true professional.
To social media content creators: Do not post anything without thorough research. People are dying here.
To social media users: Everything you see on social media is not authentic. Do not practise any remedies without an expert opinion, especially when it is something to be taken internally.