Why are social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter bad?

[Robin]

The 2 main problems I see are firstly they establish an alternative reality...a community that doesn't exist in the real world where people exchange gossip and insights that they wouldn't normally share if they were face to face. people become addicted, shutting out the real world and obsessing on being part of an internet group, constantly being 'connected'.... and back in the real world they talk about what they said or heard like people used to talk about things they had actually done. people are linked to strangers and people with dubious motives and have their photos and personal information passed around, out of their control.

The second is related, by substituting electronic words for real relationships people rarely see the effects of what they share...if you broke some news or told a lie in real life you could see the other person being shocked or upset and you would know if you ought say more or apologize. People report being bullied on-line and others of having intimate secrets plastered across the world wide web... sure those things happen in the real world but there you can chose to stay and join in or not, you can show your anger and frustration and bystanders can come to your rescue.