Social media spotlighted in Rutgers suicide case

From CBS:

Jury selection is underway in the trial of Dharun Ravi, a Rutgers University freshman accused of bullying his college roommate, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide in September 2010. Erin Moriarty of "48 Hours Mystery" has been following the case.

Clementi's death became an international symbol of the consequences of bullying and homophobia. The trial of the young man accused of bullying him is unique because much of the evidence that will be used against him was found online in social media.
Nineteen-year old Dharun Ravi faces 15 counts of invasion of privacy, evidence and witness tampering, and bias intimidation -- a hate crime which could land him in prison for ten years.

Ravi's trial is likely to renew the debate between those who see his actions as a prank gone too far and those who see him as a vicious bully.

Like so many teenagers, Dharun Ravi communicated incessantly online, and every tweet, text instant message, and email he wrote remains in cyberspace. Prosecutors were able to retrieve them and will now use his own words against him to prove that he harassed Tyler Clementi because he believed his roommate was gay.