Death on Facebook

Public best solution when violence hits social media

As we write this, the story is still developing. By the time you read it, police may have closed in on the suspect.

Here’s what we know: Police across the country are searching for Steve Stephens, 37, who allegedly shot and killed a 74-year-old man Sunday in Cleveland, Ohio, then posted a video of the slaying on Facebook.

Stephens was apparently driving around, looking for a victim, when he found Robert Godwin Sr. out collecting aluminum cans to sell. And then he shot him, according to authorities.

The whole thing is in the video. It seems Stephens was upset over his girlfriend and, as he put it in another video streamed live on the social media site, “snapped.”

Police are calling for Stephens to turn himself in. We hope he heeds the call. But there is another issue in this case as well.

When the video was posted, it drew thousands of views. Some users shared the video as well, allowing thousands more to view it. Facebook shut down Stephens’ account and has been busy deleting the video whenever they find it, but copies were made and appear on other websites where it will live forever. Millions must have seen it by now. Millions more will see it in the future.

This isn’t the first time a horrific act of violence has appeared on Facebook. Facebook says it’s rules don’t allow such content and that its staff will delete anything that violates its terms of service. But since Facebook doesn’t screen videos and other materials before they are posted by users, it will always be a game of catch-up. And that opens the door for those who crave notoriety through violence to get their chance at infamy.

Predictably, Facebook is under fire for this. There is always understandable outrage to such things. Some are even calling for criminal charges against anyone who posts violent material online.

There is no easy answer. Facebook and other social media don’t have the manpower to police every bit of content posted from billions of users. And not even the threat of prosecution will deter users from sharing gruesome content. Many are outside U.S. jurisdiction anyway. Millions around the world have a morbid curiosity. The stuff wouldn’t be there without some demand. It’s not going away completely.

So don’t watch the stuff. Just don’t. And since Facebook will remove content that is against its terms of service, report it when you see it. Report it immediately.

It’s not a perfect solution, but there is no perfect solution. Right now, it’s the best we can hope for. Fewer watching, more objecting. Public outrage can be a powerful thing when channeled appropriately.