Aaron Carter's Death Puts Spotlight on 'the Epidemic of Cyberbullying'

Following the news that Aaron Carter suffered from cyberbullying, one expert has shared that they believe the late entertainer's death is emblematic of a broader "epidemic."

Carter's manager told Page Six in a November 18 article that over time, cyberbullying "broke down" the singer. He described the onslaught of virtual hate as a "nightmare."

"It was nonstop," the manager, Taylor Helgeson, said. "It was so relentless and, yeah, it did a number on him."

Earlier this month, 34-year-old Carter was discovered dead in a bathtub at his home in Lancaster, California, and pill bottles and compressed air cans were said to have been discovered at the scene. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Carter reportedly said in his unreleased memoir that he was "always suicidal" but that he "loved life too much to actually do it." The book was set to be published on November 15.

Helgeson said he didn't believe that Carter had intentionally taken his own life, but told Page Six that online trolls had harmed his mental health. Carter's older brother, Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, has said that the "real villain" behind his brother's death was mental illness and addiction.

Civil rights attorney Christa Ramey told Newsweek that the tragedy highlights the consequences of "the epidemic of cyberbullying." The phenomenon harms celebrities and non-famous people alike, she said.

"In the case of Aaron Carter, he couldn't step away from social media even though the comments were hurting his mental health," said Ramey, the co-founder of Los Angeles-based civil litigation firm Ramey Law PC and of counsel with ACTS Law. "When people see negative comments, they naturally want to address them all. For example, if you scroll on TikTok, you can see all kinds of bullying, including people bullying the bullies."

Helgeson previously said that one night, after getting heckled at a show, Carter encountered more mean comments on Twitter. Even though such posts hurt him, Helgeson said, the singer didn't appear able to stay away from social media.

Ramey noted that certain celebs, such as singer Taylor Swift, have raised awareness about social media toxicity. It's essential that young people learn when to log off, she said, adding: "Social media addiction is a complex issue that goes hand-in-hand with online bullying."

Of course, cyberbullying doesn't only plague Hollywood stars but has also driven some teenagers to attempt suicide, Ramey said. She argued that for her, "that's where the bigger tragedy" lies.

"People compare themselves to others online, often by looking at the number of likes, shares and other engagements—it's addicting," she said. "A growing body of evidence has shown that it's similar to an addiction to drugs and alcohol, as there is a similar chemical reaction with neurotransmitters. Users are looking for those likes and other positive feedback to release dopamine."

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown once deleted her social media after trolls falsely dubbed her as "homophobic" in memes, Ramey noted. And singer-and-actress Selena Gomez is among certain celebs who ask their team to post for them on social media so that they can be shielded from "toxic users."

"The epidemic of cyberbullying and social media addiction doesn't exclude anyone," Ramey said.

The attorney further explained that it's difficult to sue social media harassers who bully a victim into taking their own life. Internet anonymity and different jurisdictions are examples of why pursuing legal action can be tricky.

"Social media companies aren't legally responsible for regulating cyberbullying on their platforms as they are protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act," Ramey said. "Until Congress amends Section 230 to create an exception for bullying as they did with human trafficking, social media companies will continue to enjoy these broad protections from liability."

Newsweek reached out to Helgeson for comment.