Shortly before passing away from suicide, Ian Alexander Jr., 26, son of Regina King, declared social media to be unhealthy for his well-being. 

“I don’t think instagram is healthy for me,” wrote Alexander Jr., who deejayed under the stage name Desdune, in considered one of his final tweets. 

He used a preferred image from SpongeBob Squarepants where the cartoon character is surrounded by tiny clones cloaked in wild flames for example exactly how he was feeling to his followers. 

“ that episode of SpongeBob where they go inside his brain and it’s a bunch of mini spongebobs just losing their s—…..yea that one really hits home,” he wrote. 

Alexander Jr. was the only child of King and her ex-husband Ian Alexander, Sr., and the pair shared a wonderful bond. She often invoked his name during her acceptance speeches and gushed about her enduring love for him. King confirmed his tragic death in an announcement to PEOPLE, “Our family is devastated on the deepest level by the lack of Ian,” she said. 

“He’s such a shiny light who cared so deeply concerning the happiness of others. Our family asks for respectful consideration during this private time.”

On the subject of the impact of social media on users, various studies have been conducted by the businesses themselves in addition to plenty of public health institutes on the way it affects people. 

In response to a study published by the American Medical Association in 2021, “Social media use has been related to diminished well-being and greater levels of tension and depression.” A 2018 study published within the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology strongly advocated for limiting use of social media platforms to lower than half-hour per day on the grounds that it “may result in significant improvement in well-being.” 

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the King and Alexander families at this difficult time.

If you happen to or someone you recognize is battling mental health issues and/or suicidal ideation you possibly can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 twenty-four hours a day.