Community Grief And Traces Left Behind Online

The Virginia Tech massacre isn’t “news” on Facebook and across the
social Web. It’s reality.

Looking at pictures of shooting victims Ryan Clark and Emily Hilscher, once uploaded to represent themselves to their friends and classmates online, the comfortable distance a headline can create collapses.

On Facebook, Clark and Hilscher’s profiles are still linked to groups and to friends. There’s a photo on Facebook of Hilscher wearing three hats on her head. There’s one of Clark in his band uniform, sunglasses propped on the bill of his cap.

These are traces left behind online, and they turn Ryan Clark and
Emily Hilscher from names in print into people who updated their
profiles and messaged their friends and uploaded cheesy party
pictures.

They existed before. Now an online community mourns their
sudden loss after yesterday’s massacre at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, which ended in the deaths of 33 people, including the shooter.

There are just under 39,000 Facebook members who identify themselves
as part of the Virginia Tech network. And just as the community that
walks in Blacksburg, Va., goes from prayer service to candlelight
vigil, so too does the community mourn online.

They’re forming groups
and holding discussions and posting pictures of those who lost their
lives. They are all changing their profile pictures to an icon of a
black ribbon and the letters “VT.”

One group, Remembering Ryan “Stack” Clark, hosts 24 photos and 26
wall posts, which are messages from group members. Amy Kaplan writes:

“such a sassy-pants…. Stack could always be counted on to shout my
name when he saw me, or ANYONE he knew (and he knew EVERYONE)….”

Sarah Chuba writes to Clark as though he could read her message:

“Ryan – just wanted to say that I know I havent been the best at
keeping in touch the past couple of years being in school and all.
But, I also want to say that you were very inspiring not only in
helping me to build my confidence, but also in getting me the courage
to get here. You’re spirit will live on in the lives of all those
that you touched – you are an amazing soul and have blessed so many
with your presence and grace. Thank you.”

Another group is called “Why Emily Hilscher was cooler than me,” and another is called “VT Unite.” There are dozens more, including one group
called “I’m ok at VT,” created to “Let all your friends know you are
ok today.”

This kind of reporting — first-hand accounts messaged between first-hand witnesses, digital photos and videos taken with cell phones —
like the traces left online by the dead, put yesterday’s tragedy only
as far away as your last e-mail or instant message.

There are no story leads or nut graphs in the messages students posted to
each other to stay informed. “Erin Peterson has passed away. Please
say a prayer for her family,” is all one message reads.

One student
posted the classes being held on the floor the shooting took place.
Another message:

“To The Faculty, Staff, and Students of the CEE
Department. It is with great regret and personal sadness that I
report to you that I have received information that indicates that we
have tragically lost several members of our Department as a result of
the shootings that took place earlier today.”

There isn’t any clever editing in the videos students posted to
LiveLeak.com and YouTube. It’s just footage of a gray spring day with
steady popping gunfire sounding in the background.

Photos students uploaded to
Facebook in the hours after the shootings to a group called “Campus
Shooting Photos” feature none of the composed mourning and careful
lighting captured by images on NYTimes.com. Police carry the wounded
and students hide behind cars.

For all of us — Facebook profile updaters, e-mailers, message posters,
and Internet users alike — it’s reality.

Get the Free Newsletter!

Subscribe to our newsletter.

Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

News Around the Web