Sometimes, social networks are not as useful as they seem

Apr 8, 2008 09:28 GMT  ·  By

Last week, we told you about the Saudi girl who was killed by her father after having been caught chatting on a social network. Today, another report concerning such ways of communication hits the web: two rival gangs were using these websites to organize fights between their members. According to the Belfast Telegraph, several police officers from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, got into trouble a few days ago when attempting to stop a fight between two persons. However, the conflict turned into a real riot as the friends of the individuals assaulted the police with all kinds of things including bottlers and bricks.

The authorities think that the entire attack was previously organized on social networks, the same source reports. No less than four teens were arrested and the investigations continue. "Four teenagers were arrested for public order offences as large crowds gathered in the Rosemount area. They were later released, pending further reports. A PSNI spokesman said at least one police vehicle had been damaged during the disturbance," the Belfast Telegraph wrote.

Once again, it is proved that today's so-popular social networking websites, which actually attract thousands of new users every day, may be accessed with a different purpose than the main one: meet and interact with new people on the web. At the time of signing an agreement with the Redmond-based company Microsoft, the Facebook officials said that their website records approximately 200,000 new user registrations every day, which is pretty impressive since most members are youngsters and teenagers from all over the world.

Sure, the social networks can't do a thing about this matter and obviously, it's not their fault that teenagers have found a different use of their service. However, let's just hope that social networks will remain the same peaceful places they were supposed to be...