Emo Myth: 10-Year Follow-Up Stereotype Test of Emo Teens in 2000s

Abstract

Emo subculture has been considered as a folk devil which caused moral panic regarding self-mutilation and suicide tendency. After the suicide cases in 2007, media began to construct the stereotype for emo children and people outside this subculture has together created a spiral of silent. The current study primarily aimed to understand this stereotype whether it really exists. Content analysis was used to determine the data which is available on Facebook profile of emo kids who joined online emo community during 2008. The finding revealed that most emo children from that day are currently working in professional careers and do not have a depression symptom. The result disproves the stereotype given by the media and outsiders. This study suggests that myth in media and stereotype do not only misguide others, but it might also hurt people who are stereotyped. Fortunately, emo children could find the way to walk through the myth and meet a positive light in their life.