Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in peer-to-peer networking technology.  Like most new technologies, this comes with positive and negative implications for society.  Thess technologies allow, as this site is a perfect example of, the immediate sharing of ideas and information regardless of geographical location.  Public discourse, education, and human relations have been opened up to limitless possibilities by the internet and sub-technologies.  That is if one can find what might seem like small reserves 0f these noble ideas among a wasteland of irrelevance and pornography. 

Websites like Facebook have allowed for friends to stay connected over large distances constantly.  They also have created an entirely new style of bullying and sexual harassment.  This, along with a new trend called 'sexting' has parents and human interest news segments in an uproar.

The incorporation of cameras into cell phone technology and an available medium to distribute those pictures immediately can lead to obvious consequences.  Not to mention what most don't realize, when pictures are added to facebook you give up ownership of them and they can never be fully removed.  The desire is always present, to blame negative effects on the technology itself.  However these technologies, and the internet itself, are increasingly market-based and suited to consumer demand.  It will by that token meet the demands that we place upon it.            

Social Darwinism, is most simply the application of the idea of natural selection applied to shifts in social trends.  As society changes and grows people must learn to adapt.  The same is true that people must adapt to a change in technological capability.   Social Darwinism has been used to justify some highly immoral actions such as colonialism and I obviously do not mean that those who do not adapt should die out.  My point is, however, that our technologies are only as useful as we are.  They continuously change and we must adapt to their responsible use.  Parents must monitor their kids that they might learn this responsibility for themselves.  Mistakes are far too easily made on the internet, taking only seconds to make.  It is important for parents to talk to kids about the problems behind these technologies, potentially informing themselves in the process.  We must increase responsible exposure to the internet, not limit overall exposure.