Beware of suicidal minds online

'Live' suicide of teenager on Internet exposes cynical netizens and warns society to take measures to help desperate people

What many initially assumed was a stunt to attract people's attention online turned out to be a real suicide by a frustrated 19-year-old in Luzhou of Southwest China's Sichuan province. The most shocking part: the horrifying act was seen live on the Internet on Nov 30. And the saddest part: the teenager might not have committed suicide had he not been instigated or egged on by some sick and mindless "live viewers".

The tragedy teaches us about the kind of role we should play if we encounter such extremities in this Internet era.