I don't see that as an internet thing, its about long distance control, or remote control. Its the same thing when people say its easy for politicians to send troops to war, or when a soldier controls a drone. They don't directly witness the outcome. The internet is just a more efficient, wider spread, easier to access example of it. Maybe also, its the same sort of thing as common folk committing minor insurance fraud. They don't see a victim.

Often wondered.... If a website were set up which had just one button one the page, and message saying the following: "After 10 million unique hits, a nuclear missile will be launched at a random capital city" Then lots of genuinely convincing stuff about it being about it being real, such that it was know to be for real. Also probably restrict it to adults, some how. (No, I don't quite know how, but this is a thought experiment after all.) How long would it take to hit the 10M? Would anyone really click?

Anyway, its clear to me that the more remote something is, the more people disassociate from it. The internet is just another example.