Do online memorial sites help teens work through the grieving process or drive them to suicide? That’s what University of South Florida researchers are hoping to find out as they examine sites such as MyDeathSpace.com, which lists the MySpace blogs of members who have died and provides a forum. Researchers want to design a computer algorithm to see if MySpace members who kill themselves have been linked online to other suicidal members. Writes the St. Petersburg Times: “Researchers would design a computer algorithm to see if MySpace members who kill themselves have been linked online to other suicidal members. They will also tap into MyDeathSpace, which as of Friday, registered 55 suicides and 457 other deaths.” Founder Mike Patterson says he gets hate mail ever day, but notes: “MyDeathSpace has helped countless teens. While you can mouth off about how pathetic I am and how miserable my life is, other people send e-mails thanking me for what I have done.” Via Obscure Store
