If you've ever wondered why people like Vox and I have little use or respect for most journalists today, take a look at this hit piece on social networking websites. It is written with all of the technical literacy of a caveman:

Web sites like MySpace, Facebook and Xanga are revolutionizing ideas about how the Internet can be used as a social networking venue, giving registrants the opportunity to get in touch with more people than ever before, and to share ideas, stories and facts. But also emerging are an increasing number of stories about the dark side of the endless new ways of interconnecting.

So-called "social networking" sites, such as MySpace and Xanga make it easier than ever for predators to cloak their identities online - even more so than previous types of online communication like chat rooms and forums.

The cops are right when they say that it pose a new problem in that they can function as a virtual registry of "underage targets," but this comment is an example of how completely clueless the media (and most Americans) are about programming. It's so blatantly bad that the writer should pause, reflect on his or her extreme ignorance of the technology involved and then shut the hell up. They all function on the HTTP protocol like phpBB, WordPress, Movable Type and other forum and blog suites. There is no, I repeat, no fundamental technical difference between the social networking sites of today and the forums of yore.

Psst, come here. I'll tell you the real reason why your teenager is in greater danger online these days. (In a very hushed tone) It's because you're not doing your f$%^ing job as a parent and teaching them safety and basic sexual morality. Why is your teen using these sites without you having any idea what's going on in the first place?