Digital Smarts - Conviction in the Case of the Texting Urged Suicide Could Create Issues

The conviction of Michelle Carter for urging her boyfriend by text message to commit suicide, seems like an ultimate case of cyberbullying. Critics say, though, there may be an issue with the law being stretched. While the verdict should encourage parents to talk about and pay closer attention to what their children are texting to their friends, in theory a friend who simply expresses sympathy for a despondent friend’s desire to take their own life could soon be held liable for that death. This is something that will be interesting to see how it plays out in the courts.