Social networking actions lead to crimes, but is it anything new?

A disagreement over a Facebook relationship status recently ended with gunshots being fired into the air outside a Georgia Waffle House. In February, a husband and wife unfriending someone on Facebook ended with that person’s father shooting the couple.

As these events happen, they get a great deal of news coverage. The stories are somewhat unique as they involve a specific element that hasn’t existed before. They seem to demonize social networking websites as the cause of such evil, but is that really fair? Relationships and friendships have always had highs and lows despite technology. The only thing different today is that those changes can be easily broadcast to hundreds or thousands of your closest friends.

The question is whether social networking is creating new issues. Would the couple mentioned above still be alive if the friendship had just faded without such a conclusive end? Is the nature of Facebook changing our emotions and reactions? Or would these same people have wound up feuding as a result of a telegram or letter sent by carrier pigeon? My fear is that social networking is making these types of interactions more common. What are your thoughts?