Arizona Passes 'Cade's Law' to Hold Adults Accountable for Encouraging Youth Suicide Online

The new law allows for manslaughter charges against adults who push children to self-harm through social media or other digital platforms.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:37am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a broken smartphone screen, the shattered glass reflecting a dim, flickering light, conceptually illustrating the devastating impact of online predation on vulnerable youth.The harsh, unforgiving light of a camera flash exposes the tragic aftermath of online exploitation, a shattered screen reflecting the fragility of young lives lost to suicide.Phoenix Today

The Arizona state legislature has passed a new law called 'Cade's Law' that seeks to hold adults accountable for encouraging or pushing children to commit suicide through online platforms. The law is named after a 16-year-old Phoenix teen, Cade Keller, who took his own life in 2022 after making suicidal videos on Instagram that were viewed by peers who did not intervene. Under the new law, adults who engage in this type of behavior can now face manslaughter charges.

Why it matters

The law aims to address a growing problem of vulnerable youth being targeted and exploited online by predatory adults who encourage self-harm. It comes in response to Cade's tragic death, where his peers failed to intervene despite his clear cries for help. Advocates hope the new law will deter this dangerous behavior and make adults think twice before pushing children towards suicide on social media.

The details

Cade Keller, a 16-year-old from Phoenix, was accepted into a welding program at Mesa Community College in January 2022 while still in high school, pursuing his dream career. However, his parents say he was also struggling with his mental health and contemplating suicide. Before his death, Cade made several suicidal videos on Instagram that were viewed by a group of 11 people, three of whom recorded the videos without alerting authorities or Cade's family. Cade later took his own life in March 2022.

  • Cade Keller was accepted into a welding program at Mesa Community College in January 2022.
  • Cade made suicidal videos on Instagram that were viewed by a group of 11 people in March 2022.
  • Cade took his own life in March 2022.

The players

Cade Keller

A 16-year-old Phoenix teen who died by suicide in 2022 after making suicidal videos on Instagram that were viewed by peers who did not intervene.

Megan Keller

Cade Keller's mother, who has become an advocate for suicide awareness and prevention since her son's death.

Brian Cooper

Cade Keller's father, who has also become an advocate for suicide awareness and prevention.

Pamela Carter

The Republican state representative who sponsored 'Cade's Law' in the Arizona legislature.

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What they’re saying

“When asked, why didn't anybody say anything? Several people within that generation, as well as in that chat group, had said we didn't believe him.”

— Megan Keller, Cade Keller's mother

“We're just trying to eliminate all victims; nobody should be a victim of suicide, and that's our goal.”

— Brian Cooper, Cade Keller's father

“There are adults that are predatory and actually prey on these kids when they are contemplating suicide.”

— Pamela Carter, Arizona State Representative

What’s next

The new 'Cade's Law' will go into effect immediately, allowing prosecutors to pursue manslaughter charges against any adults who are found to have encouraged or pushed children to commit suicide through online platforms.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, intervention, and accountability when it comes to the mental health struggles of young people. 'Cade's Law' represents an important step towards protecting vulnerable youth from predatory adults who exploit their vulnerabilities online, and serves as a reminder for all of us to take suicide threats seriously and get help for those in crisis.