17th Youth Dies in Welsh 'Suicide Borough'

(NEWSER) - The Florida teen who committed suicide live via webcam was bipolar and used his own prescription drugs to kill himself, the Miami Herald reports. “It’s unimaginable,” the boy’s father said. “I did everything I could. I'm sorry it wasn't enough.” His sister expressed anger at the online viewers who watched him lie motionless. "I just do not understand how so many hours passed and no one lifted a finger," she told the New York Post. Some commentators mocked him; others thought it a joke. More»

Site's obscure contract, which most ignore, is key to the case

(NEWSER) - A criminal indictment over MySpace bullying that led to a Missouri teen's suicide sets an unusual and perhaps dangerous legal precedent, experts say. Because her activities violated the site’s terms of use, Lori Drew faces charges of computer fraud and abuse related to the death of Megan Meier, Wired reports—and the charges involve a contract that few users even bother to read. More»

Spate of copycat deaths sparks calls for tougher laws

(NEWSER) - A spate of apparent copycat suicides in a Wales town has lead to a nationwide campaign against suicide websites, the Guardian reports. Rumor has it that seven recent suicide victims in the town of Bridgend knew each other, and noted each others' deaths on a social networking site. Police are probing for a possible link, as politicians have swung into action. More»

MyDeathSpace collects obits, profiles and more

(NEWSER) - A site that collects obituaries, often of young people, and links to their social-network profiles is gaining traction, the AP reports. MyDeathSpace.com lists more than 2,700 deaths and receives more than 100,000 hits daily. "This site does kind of let you look into the heart of darkness," one professor says. More»

Tyler Clementi's roommate gives his side of the story

(NEWSER) - Dharun Ravi says he did something a lot of college kids do: He unthinkingly pranked an awkward, less-cool roommate. But that prank was spying on a homosexual hookup via webcam, that roommate was Tyler Clementi, and Ravi has a hate-crime conviction to show for what he says was a moment of teenage stupidity. Ravi sits down with the Star-Ledger to give his side of the story in a surprisingly sympathetic interview. Highlights:

• On what he was thinking: "I wasn’t. I got caught up in what I thought was funny, and my own ego. I never really thought about what it would mean to Tyler. I know that’s wrong, but that’s the truth."
• On not taking a plea deal: "I’m never going to regret not taking the plea. I would have had to testify that I did what I did to intimidate Tyler and that would be a lie. I won’t ever get up there and tell the world I hated Tyler because he was gay, or tell the world I was trying to hurt or intimidate him because it’s not true."