What Online Community?

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Yet in essence, this is precisely the behavior demonstrated by the spectators. These individuals were able to hide behind the thin veil of anonymity the Internet provides, and thus either justify their behaviors or assume they were protected from the consequences of their actions. Consequently, computer-mediated communication provided the setting for moral detachment and a lapse of ethical judgment that would not have occurred within face-to-face communication. Legally, the spectators may be exonerated, but morally and ethically they are accountable for their actions.

And what of the second group, the bystanders? These individuals viewed the incident live on Justin.tv and chose to be observers. This behavior is actually more predictable, based upon the so-called bystander effect whereby in an emergency, the more bystanders there are, the less likely it is that any of them will actually help. A recent example involved a Philadelphia subway rider who was beaten with a hammer while 10 bystanders chose not to assist the victim. Similarly, many individuals who witnessed the suicide unfold chose not to get involved. The ubiquity of the Internet and the mass of viewers on live video sites potentially increase the possibility of the bystander effect occurring during online emergencies.

Emergency Response

Another plausible explanation for the inaction and macabre voyeurism is related to our fascination with death. Once again, this is a cultural norm and is not surprising that many spectators would view the first case of "deathcasting" on American soil. Ironically, Justin Kan (founder of Justin.tv) popularized the term "lifecasting" by wearing a Webcam 24 hours a day. It is my sincere hope that copycats will not popularize the term "deathcasting."

The third response (and, of course, the most appropriate response) was the group who attempted to contact authorities, although this response was met with difficulties. Contacting the moderators and the ISP proved to be tricky. The time lag between contacting authorities and finding the location of the victim was approximately 12 hours. This group acted ethically, responsibly, and can be exonerated from any culpability. It is important that we continue to examine this issue to explore available or new means of monitoring and responding to emergencies on the Internet.

Of the three responses portrayed by the spectators, the Internet culture and technology played a role in each. As a sociologist, I would be remiss if I did not address the macro issue behind this tragic incident. Suicide in the U.S. is a salient issue and concern. Every 16 minutes an American takes his or her own life. In 2007, the number of 10- to 24-year-olds who committed suicide rose by 8%, the largest increase in 15 years. Suicide is directly related to the degree of social integration among members of a society. In other words, the more connections between individuals, the lower the suicide rate.

It's my sincere hope that as more people use technomedia to forge connections, they'll also use it to find meaningful relationships and build support systems.

Whitworth is a professor of sociology at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.