Some very good points there rstuart, I can only agree with most of that. I like your point about the small community versus the big city. Services like Facebook do allow you to interact and get to know people much better. I've met friends with common interests at social events, chatted on Facebook and gotten to know them much more rapidly then if we'd just been meeting at infrequent events when our circles collide.

I guess there's one main point that scares me, which was mentioned in the article.

It's true that in signing up to these services, we essentially agree to whatever terms the websites stipulate. There's only one problem here.

"they’re (google) for people at the margins to be excluded from social connections should the rest of their friends use Google+... become the place they interact and organise activities."

Effectively, once a service becomes a key part of the system, opting out causes you harm. Consider the poverty line, particularly in the US - if you don't have a checking account, you can't pay for a number of goods and services. Checking accounts cost you money, and if you overdraw them you are charged extra.

Sure, you don't have to open a checking account - you just end up being unable to pay for many services. It's entirely your choice.

When people organize an event and advertise it on Facebook, there's a good chance you won't see it if you don't have a facebook account. With Google+ potentially being integrated into other mobile services (consider Android's recent acquisition of motorola for example) the potential for exclusion is quite significant.

The internet only knows what you punch into it. If you don't like the idea of something, don't do it.

sound advice st stig
but we cant help our selves
[i guess thats why i got a pre paid web acces
that runs out in december...and i got no id to get a new acces]

so then i will go silent
[no id..no web acces]..and i let all my id expire

thus wont be allowed to acces the web
and FINALLY ..can leave the world to sort out its own woes

its a promise

It's definitely not reasonable but each story has its good side and the bad side . We are not supose to jump into conclusions.