There was a thing on the Today Programme about this. A politician claiming that it was the morbid appeal of internet fame via a bebo memorial page that contributed to the deaths of all these young people.
I know that notoriety is something the kids of today want, and that the internet's suspension of reality can make people do strange things in real life but surely there is more to it than the two combining in a horribly misguided way.
I think that by pointing to the 'harmful' effect of the internet on these kids and causing a fuss about it could mean that the factors which put them into the sort of position to think that this was an ok thing to do will be ignored.
It seems that the internet is becoming the new heavy metal or violent cinema or bloody computer game for those looking for easy answers to more complex issues. I'm not saying that these people aren't well meaning, but listening to Humphreys and Madeline Moon on Today it was apparent that neither seemed particularly well informed on the reality of the 'online social networking phenomenon'.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7204172.stm