Experts debunk 'Facebook killers' theory

Researchers has revealed that there is no such thing as 'Facebook Murder', as it was observed that the cases studied weren't collectively unique or unusual when compared with general trends and characteristics--certainly not to a degree that would necessitate the introduction of a new category of homicide or a broad label.

Investigators recently set out to consider whether homicides involving social networking sites were unique and worthy of labels such as, and to explore the ways in which perpetrators had used such sites in the homicides they had committed.

Dr. Elizabeth Yardley, co-author of the study, said that victims knew their killers in most cases, and the crimes echoed what we already know about this type of crime.

She added that social networking sites like Facebook have become part and parcel of our everyday lives and it's important to stress that there is nothing inherently bad about them. Facebook is no more to blame for these homicides than a knife is to blame for a stabbing--it's the intentions of the people using these tools that we need to focus upon.

The study was published in Howard Journal of Criminal Justice.