The rhetoric of the mistake in adult narratives of youth sexuality: the case of Amanda Todd

Abstract

A survey of news media coverage surrounding the suicide death of Amanda Todd reveals a preoccupation with her act of flashing her breasts online, which was framed as a “mistake” in several reports. While the rhetoric of the mistake has protectionist overtones, it can also be viewed as a form of containment, and a continuation of the public shaming Todd experienced when she was alive. Throughout the coverage studied, youth are situated along a sliding scale of innocence and stupidity, exposing intergenerational conflicts at the core of this case. Understanding the impact of this rhetoric, and the significance of the public articulation of it, may shed light on the paradoxical status of incentives designed to protect children and youth that ultimately make them more vulnerable and exploitable.