Live-streaming your death: Suicide in the age of Web video.

This morning, I was interviewed by ABC News for their coverage of a 19-year-old who killed himself while broadcasting live on the life-streaming site Justin.tv.

Most times, it seems we've become jaded about the fact that people share everything online — their sex lives, their deepest fears, the minutia of their daily commutes. But suicide via social media remains a topic that strikes a macabre chord with mass media and Web enthusiasts alike.

Here's the excerpt from the ABCNews.com story that includes my perspective:

David Griner, a social media strategist for Luckie & Company, said that while public deaths are not new, online chatrooms provide an especially accessible forum for those debating suicide.

"The social Web tends to create a sideshow atmosphere, like public executions in the 1700s," said Griner. "The anonymity and lack of personal connection bring out the worst in people."

Griner points out that there have been several other online suicides, and some have been faked as well.

In February 2008 a girl who identified herself only as "90 Day Jane" wrote an anonymous blog chronicling the days leading up to her death. The blog turned out to be a hoax, and "Jane" later described it as an "art project."

The United Kingdom had an online suicide in March 2007, when 42-year-old Kevin Whitrick hanged himself while others watched. According to the BBC, some onlookers tried to stop him while others urged him on.

"The explosion of high-speed Internet access in the past few years has made it so that almost anyone can broadcast a live video in front of a global audience," said Griner. "It's impossible for sites like Justin.tv to monitor everything that's going on, so that puts the burden on the community to help stop bad things from happening."

Griner believes that those who encourage suicidal people are simply a sad reality of an unrestricted World Wide Web. Even so, some potential suicides are prevented on the Internet as well.

"You'll always have the morbid jerks who yell 'Jump!' when someone's on a rooftop, and you'll always have people threatening suicide in a public venue," said Griner. "And while it's easy to focus on the abundance of bloodthirsty trolls online, the bright side is that the Internet also gives more decent people the opportunity to intervene and try to save a life."

"Most times, they just need someone to talk to, and the Internet is the only forum they have."

So what are your thoughts? As I write this, there have already been more than 130 comments on the article, and I'd love to hear what you folks have to say about the tough issues raised by this sad story.

Comments

[Irene Alvarez]

My heart goes out to this family.

There are such complex issues surrounding conversation on the Web. I once compared malicious blog commenters to road ragers. Computer screens and vehicles both provide a shield that allows nasty brazenness to rear its ugly head. The “shield” is that anonymity and lack of personal connection you describe.

I’m intrigued by your comment about the burden the community has to stop bad things from happening. I wonder if online communities are willing to accept such responsibility.

I’m also reminded that what’s wonderful about the Internet is also what makes it dangerous – that anyone can have a voice.

Let's hope that the "bright side" shines more often than not, and let's keep in mind that online conversation can powerfully influence decency and good.

[Andrea Hill]

Oddly enough, I happened across this blog post today - http://www.social-marketing.com/blog/2007/10/suicide-prevention-advocacy-via.html about a suicide prevention group of facebook (related to H.R. 940, the Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2007 (Suzy's Law), intended to make it a crime to use the Internet to promote or encourage suicide.)

One of my first web gigs was for youthone.com, a government-sponsored initiative intended to offer online support for at-risk youth. We got to grapple with all those fun issues of personally-identifying information and how to offer the appropriate support.

The nature of online community meant that we didn't just want an online version of a crisis phone line, we did want to give youth the opportunity to support each other. It was definitely a challenge, however, to make sure that the messaging was actually beneficial. We did have a manned crisis chat and we had moderators checking the site to make sure things were safe.