The plot reminds me of the mass suicides in , the Solar Temple 
and Heaven's gate. The last two only happening a year before broadcast 
of layer 1. 

Jonestown was an act of protest against 'the conditions of an inhumane 
world', the Order of the Solar temple believed they would move on to 
Sirius solar system and Heaven's Gate beleived a space ship was waiting 
behind Haley . All with followers eager to escape "the creulity of the world".

Chisa and Lain's world seems no different, though little is revealed 
about Chisa. Until people get emails from beyond the grave, Chisa is 
just that girl that comitted suicide a week ago. There are no pictures, 
flowers or shrines.  Her last scenes of her suffering some sort of panic 
attack and being heckled by some older girls. She is then at peace on 
the rooftop, absolutely sure after some ephinany that something better 
awaits.

Youth suicide is a major issue in Japan, same as much of the world 
today. Despite the ideation of Japan by weebs, it is indeed a 'cruel' 
society warely recovering from a economic collapse in the 1990s. 
Children are required to work exceptionally hard on their studies while 
supressing any sort of individuality for the good of the nation. Now 
there is a overarching cultural trend called hikikomori, a form of 
social withdrawl where people feel they're not alowed to compalin so 
internalize their problems then seek help.

While not being a fan of today's self centeredness, Lain is a strong 
fictional strong warning against collectivism. Especially this kind 
silicon valley scum would have us believe in as we share every aspect of 
our lives to empower them and their clients.

The world of Lain is realistically lonely, sure you live with a family, 
you casually talk to strangers eight hours a day somewhere. But there is 
detatchment, sure something sinsister might happening in the Ikuwara 
family. It could all be a farce, but then again that's what families 
feel like. Lain asking her father for a new computer is such nerve 
wrecking scene because it's so relatable. The lack of eye contact, the 
father simply talking at her, Lain mouthing her words before talking. He 
is more engaged in perverse yahoo chats then her wellbeing, his 
definition of that being his relationship with the wired. The avatars 
more important then the people he forces himself to live with.