Hate-filled messages have been left on a Facebook page set up in memory of Kylie Poyner, the driver of a car in which three other young teenagers were seriously injured on the weekend.
Among more than 300 comments posted on the page were some critical of Ms Poyner for bad driving and destroying the lives of the survivors.
The comments have prompted a flood of criticism from Ms Poyner's family who angrily ordered the writers to post their comments elsewhere.
CLICK HERE to read tributes, and to post your own
VIDEO: Driver wanted to be police officer Yesterday Tegan Lloyd, 15, from Bemboka was in a critical condition in Canberra Base Hospital after having her legs amputated. Ben Halfpenny, 13, and Michael Clark, 15, both of Merimbula, suffered serious head, leg and pelvic injuries.
Eden Marine and Bega high schools held early morning assemblies yesterday to tell students of the accident.
Insensitive remarks posted on accident victim Kylie Poyner's Facebook page show people are still grappling with the right way to use social networking sites, a technology expert says.
A string of controversial posts have appeared on a Facebook page set up in memory of the Pambula 17-year-old, who was killed early on Sunday when the car she was driving left the Princes Hwy near Eden and slammed into a tree.
Mourners have posted more than 300 tributes to the much-loved teen, describing her as a vivacious, caring girl with a bright future.
Sarah Louise Morton wrote: "(Kylie was) so good hearted, she was going places. Your loss is more than any of us can imagine. Rest in peace, you beautiful girl."
But among the tributes were several comments criticising the teen for driving poorly and destroying the lives of the survivors.
The comments prompted a flood of criticism from Kylie's grief-stricken friends, who angrily ordered unwanted users to air their views in a more appropriate forum.
"I cannot believe that someone who obviously is not from this community can make such comments on this site," wrote Christine Mather.
"Your lack of empathy and judgment is simply astounding.
"How dare you?"
While surprised by the harsh nature of the Facebook comments, University of Wollongong digital communications lecturer Jason Wilson said they revealed the lag between knowledge of appropriate behaviour and the development of new technology.
"You wouldn't go to someone's condolence book and scrawl something about how they should have been a better driver, you would know that is wrong," Mr Wilson said.
"But sometimes those boundaries aren't obvious online (because) we haven't developed those social norms around new media."
"It's a question of making the effort to realise there are people at the other end of the conversation."
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