Katie Couric's Notebook: Internet Suicide

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

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Notebook: Internet Suicide

It's a landmark case in Internet law. You may remember the Missouri woman accused of posing as a teenage boy on MySpace. Using the fake identity, she allegedly began taunting a 13-year-old neighborhood girl who eventually committed suicide.

Lori Drew was called a monster, a predator, a cyber bully ... but she's not charged in the girl's death. Missouri prosecutors said no laws were broken. Instead, Drew is now on trial in Los Angeles for allegedly violating her MySpace agreement. Some say it's a legal stretch, while others can't understand why she isn't being tried for a much more serious offense.

It's a reminder that our laws don't always keep up with ever-changing technology. Every day people post things on-line they would never say in person. But those digital words matter, a lesson Lori Drew found out the hard way, and a 13-year-old girl is dead.

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by bdluck36 November 20, 2008 3:26 AM EST: You know what should happen here. The family of the the kids that are getting cyber bullied should go to the bullies parents and whip the hell out of them. Then maybe they will be more attentive to what their kids are doing. If they know there is a butt kicking for not overseeing their children then perhaps they will take a more active parenting role. I hate bullies and I hate poor parenting even more.; Reply to this comment


by kpandco November 20, 2008 2:36 AM EST: If a burglar breaks into someone''s home and the resident has a heart attack, are you going to blame his cardiac history?

Granted, the child may have been teetering at the edge, albeit there''s no denying that Lori Drews immature actions were the nudge that sent her over.

As the mother of a teenage daughter, I can''t imagine a mother taking part in such a cruel head game.... shame on her.; Reply to this comment


by christocox November 19, 2008 8:52 PM EST: Major depression did kill this girl, not this cyber bully. What she did was ridiculous and stupid, but no worse than the playground bully many experienced in high school. If a student kills themselves after a bully on the playground calls them a name,is the bully responsible. Of course not! Millions of Americans have experienced this and did not kill themselves. America is literally becoming a weak nation before our eyes. No strength of character or willingness to tough things out. If the going gets tough, and government can''t provide an answer, some just give up the ship. We are creating a society of whining, give them everything, expect nothing from them losers!; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 November 18, 2008 10:30 PM EST: Katie,

This case was a tragedy, and the woman who said these terrible things to this girl has to live forever with the aftermath on her conscience.

Yet major depression is what killed that poor girl. She needed professional help. It is probable she was on the road to such a desperate act long before she struck up the online relationship with this fake "boyfriend".

It is a pitiful situation. You can''t help but feel for the parents. But to say that this woman "killed" this poor creature is not accurate.

Major depression is the killer, and until our society breaks down the barriers of stigma and ignorance that surround this terrible disease, the fallen from this "war" will continue to mount up.

Legislate money toward treatment. Legislate money toward research. Legislate money toward education for parents and youths. Break the stigma!

It will save many more than the mere legislation of internet speech.

Eric; Reply to this comment