At around noon today, a nationwide manhunt ended. Steve Stephens was accused of murdering an elderly man and posting the video to Facebook. He was cornered by police in Erie, Pa., Tuesday and committed suicide. Even before police found Mr. Stephens, we in the newsroom were struggling with the significance of the event. Has murder become entertainment in a society coarsened by social media? What should Facebook do to stop such posts in the future?

But there was an overlooked question, too. Is this really a problem of technology or of social media? Technology and social media simply amplify us, our best – and our worst. Yes, technology can be made a better tool. But perhaps the best way to improve social media is to improve ourselves.