8 years after death of Amanda Todd, her mother speaks out in new cyberbullying documentary
Coquitlam-area teen Amanda Todd took her own life eight years ago after being bullied online and now, on the anniversary of her death, a new film featuring her mother is being released that sheds light on the life-altering impacts of cyberbullying in Canada.
Dark Cloud premieres online Oct. 10, the same day Amanda Todd took her own life in 2012, after posting a video on YouTube saying she had been blackmailed by an online predator. The date also coincides with World Mental Health Day.
Since her daughter’s death, Carol Todd has worked to raise awareness about mental health issues and depression among teens. The film follows her as she connects with parents, victims, and experts to educate viewers about online harassment.
“I never thought I would be in this position where eight years later I would be able to have a voice and Amanda would still have a voice,” said Carol Todd Friday on The Early Edition. “It keeps me going.”
Amanda Todd was 15 in the video she posted online before her death. In it, she held up flashcards explaining how she sank into depression afer being taunted and physically attacked at school.
Her mother has watched that video countless times.
“You are a mama bear forever,” said Carol Todd, adding she hopes sharing what happened to her child prevents it from happening to someone else’s.
Dutch citizen Aydin Coban was convicted and sentenced in 2017 for fraud and blackmail in a series of cases of cyberbullying involving young girls and gay men. He’s serving 11 years in a Dutch prison.
Coban’s lawyer said earlier his year his client wants to fight Canadian charges against him in connection to the Port Coquitlam teen — extortion, criminal harassment, child luring and child pornography — in a B.C. court. But Coban has been unable to obtain valid travel documents from the Canadian government.