Earlier this week, an online community played a practical joke that targeted fans of Justin Bieber who were upset after photographs of the Canadian superstar surfaced that allegedly showed him smoking marijuana.

The trending topic '#cutforBieber' made its way around the social networking site and encouraged fans to self-harm in an attempt to get the 'Boyfriend' singer to change his supposed bad boy ways.

Now, a British charity for youth mental health named YoungMinds has issued a statement on how dangerous a suggestion like this can be, especially on the internet where nothing is moderated and the audience can be easily influenced:

"Self harming is not a fashion, fad or statement. It's a signal that young people are experiencing extreme distress and need help. Cutting is a self-destructive act that is a way of coping with overwhelming emotions."

"To suggest young people cut themselves as some kind of protest is a very perverted and dangerous idea, and these people need to take responsibility and stop this activity immediately."

Watch Bieber perform a stunning version of 'As Long As You Love Me' here: