Internet Social Networking
The internet has an infinite wage of possibilities, especially since the introduction of Web 2.0.
One of the more vetted features, and perhaps the most used is the prospective social networking element that has pervaded all aspects of the internet, changing the face of the internet. In the early 90s we had ‘chat rooms’ (perceived as a haven for nerds, lonely people and perverts), which was a key feature of AOL, the most popular ISP of that era. Many know AOL as being the company notorious for releasing the free trial CDs, which many of us with a decent ISP, turned into instant-a-coasters.
Other early example of communication were the user-net lists, forums. Eventually joining the realm for online communication were the blog services such as LiveJournal, and Google‘s own Blogger (which this blogger abandoned due to the inconsistent nature of blogger’s service and uptime).
But, these services don’t take full advantage of Web 2.0, at least to the degree like FaceBook and MySpace do.
These tools take advantage of modern technology, to the extent of using an array of security measures to ensure the safety of minors since some parents can’t be bothered to parent these days, and rely on the TV and computer to raise their children, then wonder why the child has got in a heap of trouble.
For those of you who are unaware, I’m talking about the spate of civil suits against MySpace because the parents realised that their daughters were sexually approached by older boys. There is a certain amount of responsibility that lies with the parents and the teenagers, and that is to be aware of what the child is doing and for the child to understand that publishing your details
These suits are a sign that parents are unwilling to stop using the computer and television as a means of parenting and babysitting. That these people are unwilling to accept the responsibility of being parents. They complain about what their children are exposed to, but do nothing to stop the material from entering the house. This is precisely why censorship exists. Because people can’t be bothered to be responsible any more. They can’t control what their kid does, so they ruin it for everyone else.
Why should the world be child-proof? The rest of us are not the babysitters you’re too lazy to pay for.
Stumble It!
