Viewers watch as teen commits suicide-is the Internet fostering a lack of compassion?

November 22, 9:54 AMNY Education ExaminerLorri Giovinco-Harte

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In a recent study from the United Kingdom , scientists looked at the brain activity of subjects who were engaged in Internet searches.  The study concluded that Internet use seems to "improve brain function and speed up decision-making" although it seems to "come at the expense of empathy and the ability to think in abstract terms."

I've heard many educators and parents debate over whether or not children who spend a large amount of time using the Internet are losing critical, social skills.  Critics argue that Internet use is often used to replace real-life social interaction between young people and causes a lack of ability to relate to others in a healthy manner.

After reading the story about the young man who killed himself before an amused, live audience, I've been wondering if this might not be true.

The Associated Press has reported that 19 year old college student, Abraham Biggs had previously announced his plans to kill himself on an Internet site that allows participants to post live video from their webcams.  Biggs reportedly took some pills and lay on his father's bed while some viewers "cracked jokes." AP writes:

Some members of his virtual audience encouraged him to do it, others tried to talk him out of it, and some discussed whether he was taking a dose big enough to kill himself...

Eventually, a viewer contacted the site administrator who traced Abraham's location, but it was too late.

Biggs died in front of the viewers, many of whom watched and typed comments such as "OMFG" and "LOL" and "hahaha".

The AP piece seems to focus on the growing need for young people to document intimate parts of their lives on the Internet.  Although this may be true, I can't quite stop thinking about the viewers who sat by and did nothing. 

Does repeated Internet use cause people to lose their ability to identify with others?  Is there something about the emotional distance from which we can view on line activities that causes a distortion of reality?

I don't have the answers to these questions, but I think that they are certainly important to consider; particularly when raising and educating children in a culture which is immersed in technology.