Casey Anthony: True Crime and Fame


I think the case of Casey Anthony, because of the media's involvement, had a lasting impact on the US. It was one of the first times the media had such a presence in the trial and made those involved celebrities. I think it was used by the public as a distraction at first and then it escalated and grew into something more influential on society.

As for Casey herself, this is a really difficult thing to try and break out of. I don't know if she'll be able to get rid of the "Tot Mom" label completely because it was such a big story, and she had many people threatening her and whatnot. She was named the worst mother in America, that isn't something you just get out of. It didn't help that Nancy Grace was using her platform on HLN to fuel the flame of the public's hatred of her. Casey would probably have to change her name or something drastic to at least have a chance at having a normal life. Even then, if she did kill her daughter, that is something she'd have to carry with her the rest of her life, unless she genuinely didn't care. She did seem fairly apathetic about it, so I'm not completely sure.

The concept of schadenfreude is evident in the media's portrayal of her and the public's hatred and outrage at the final verdict reached. I think people found entertainment in the trial and also took pleasure in watching others get angry at the justice system as well as Casey Anthony and her family. I think people with low self esteem might gravitate towards this form of media and more likely find ways to fill the void that include deflecting their pain onto others, especially if they think those people deserve it.

In general, different forms of media like journalism, tv, internet, and blogs use information to spin a story that could be accurate or inaccurate when compared with the real events. It is impossible to get an unbiased recollection of events, and also media is rarely used in a way that doesn't support the media producers own agenda. I don't think that social media is very beneficial for criminal trials, and if anything it does more harm than good because it can lead to some pretty explosive arguments online, and could also have an influence on the jury and make the trial unfair. 

On one hand, it could be good for spreading the news more efficiently because more and more people are using social media as a source for news rather than newspapers or TV coverage. It could also be introduced as evidence at trials. You can find out what a person was doing and where depending on posts, having possibly shared their location, or if they are in a picture on someone else's post to help determine a persons whereabouts, demeanor, actions, etc. Tweeting your opinion about a case, broadcasting stories, getting second hand info from other sources, sharing posts, and videos could influence something in court whether you're a part of it or not. The use of social media in Casey Anthony's trial was rather to gather more and more hatred for this woman, and her family, especially her mother because of the chloroform searches and her alleged cover up to try and protect her daughter. 

I don't post on social media often, but I do always like posts and people can see that, as goes for everyone. What you 'like' on social media can also impact other's perspective of you as well as what you post. I try to avoid online conflict as much as possible, and don't like to post anything too personal. I think many people (including me) post things online for the same reason: to get attention. And if that's what dictates what gets posted online, then I think it's reliability to be used in court isn't strong. 

I think the general public's view should be considered but taken with a grain of salt because the publics view of a case is severely impacted by the media, it is important that everyone involved in the case needs facts, not opinions or feelings. People online vent out of frustration and need for attention, so they should be taken lightly. Ultimately, it's what happens in the courtroom that should impact a case because it would have less bias and not what is said online. 

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