A depressed charity worker killed herself as Facebook users mocked a suicide note she left on the social networking website.
So-called Facebook ‘friends’ of Simone Back responded with cruel messages after she posted a message that read: ‘Took all my pills be dead soon so bye bye every one.’
One user replied calling her a liar who ‘overdoses all the time’ while another said it was ‘her choice’. Miss Back, 42, is thought to have been dying of an overdose as the messages were posted on Christmas Day.
Yesterday Miss Back’s mother demanded to know why none of her daughter’s 1,082 Facebook friends tried to save her.
Jennifer Langridge, 60, said: ‘Nobody told me anything about it until the following day when I was sent a text saying “Get help”. I am disabled so can’t get up the stairs to Simone’s flat so I called the police straight away. It is upsetting to think nobody did anything for my daughter.’
Miss Back’s friend, Samantha Owen, said: ‘Everyone just carried on arguing with each other on Facebook like it wasn’t happening. Some of those people lived within walking distance of Simone.
‘If one person just left their computer and went to her house her life could have been saved.’
Miss Back posted her final status update at 10.53pm on Christmas Day. At 11pm, one of Miss Back’s friends wrote in response: ‘She ODs all the time and she lies.’
An hour later a Facebook user wrote: ‘Did you catch the part about Simone taking pills?? .. the ‘bye bye’ part?? Did anyone go by personally and check on Simone.. or call 999?? what’s wrong with you people??’
The first friend responded: ‘She does it all the time, takes all of her pills,’ adding: ‘She’s not a kid anymore.’
Another Facebook user replied: ‘If any of you lot actually call yourself a friend one of you should call around and see if she’s ok, so glad I don’t personally know any of you, heartless.’
After the discovery of Miss Back’s body on Boxing Day, Mrs Langridge posted a message on her daughter’s page: ‘My daughter Simone passed away today so please leave her alone now.’
Miss Back, from Brighton, is thought to have had relationship troubles.
A spokesman for the site insisted the safety of its users was of “paramount importance”.
A statement said Facebook was “deeply saddened” to hear of Ms Back’s death.
'We have a close working relationship with the Samaritans and have a process in place whereby friends and family who are concerned about someone can report it to us through the help centre,” it said.
'A team of trained professionals are then able to review the case and the Samaritans will make contact with the person at risk.'
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