What do new forms of communication with gossip?

In the town where I live an administrator, well known to all inhabitants, committed suicide. It’s awful for his family, his wife and son. I think you can imagine that. It even gets more awful because of the communication about it. Everybody thinks he or she has the reason why he did this. And everybody wants to tell everybody.

Social  media are used to spread opinions

Social  media like Facebook are used to spread opinions around. About who is to blame for example. Facebook is patient. But it can also hurts, very hard.  I have an account on Facebook but I don’t want to read of what is communicated about everyting. I already know a bit of what is communicated. That’s enough.

So, what does using new media do to gossip?

I think it even makes it worse. It doesn’t help in this case. Perhaps we should do things on another way. I don’t know what or how.
Do you?