WITH the aid of online social networks more and more connections are being made between us humans; but how many connections are too many?

In standard ‘non-Internet life’, us humans make many connections each and every day.

We may have the same bus driver, teacher, boss, colleague or bar tender every time we attend a certain location where these people may be found, though some of us try to maintain a distant relationship between these types of people.

What if a teacher befriended your son or daughter, would you be with OK with that?

Because now with the use of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and such, these non existent relationships or  ‘gaps’, are being bridged, enabling us to get to know someone without even having to know them on a personal level.

Of course this is probably not news too anyone, but I am beginning to notice more an more people in my own network, beginning to befriend me on the sites I listed earlier.

Are cousins my ‘friends’?

Are work colleagues my ‘friends’?

We could all argue in some cases, yes, but I think social networks are beginning to become more of a connection tool than a making new friends tool.

I’m beginning to be invited to parties from initial ‘non-Internet life’ people through these services with the connection being made easier.

Tick boxes are becoming decision makers, with patience also playing a part, with no ‘double guessing’ or time for an initial thought of whether to invite everyone on your ‘friends’ list to a party or the selected ones you hand pick.

Are online social network for good or evil?

Do they need to be more defined as to whether someone is a friend or a connection?

Input apreciated.