With the recent rapid expansion of stalker-like Twitter.com, it is clear that social networks are limitless in their creativity and influence.

Though sites such as Friendster, Livejournal and Myspace have been in existence for several years, in the past year it seems that these sites have perfected the art of attracting, and addicting millions of users. But with many recent incidents, including suicides, prostitution, child pornography cases and the enabling of sex offenders, certain questions must be asked:

How far do these sites invade individual privacy? How much to too much? And what implications do these online trends have for society?

It seems that some sites have taken it way too far.

A Jan. 11 UK TV program titled "100 Men Own My Breasts" sparked interest throughout Europe and the United States when it featured a new type of social Web site -- www.Myfreeimplants.com.

My Free Implants is an interactive social networking model where female members create profiles to attract male attention and convince them to pay for their breast augmentations.

These male "benefactors" have unrestricted access to profiles and pictures of the women, pay for "credits" to chat with them, request custom pictures and videos and buy their personal items.

As absurd as the idea may seem, this type of financial support for amateur online sites has been around and growing for a while. With the popularity of blogging came intrigued and obsessed followers, willing to donate money to the owners. Amazon currently has an application that allows a blogger to easily add a "wish list" to his or her Web site so that fans can purchase gifts directly for a complete stranger.

With My Free Implants, the wish list has transformed from music and clothing to double-D-sized silicon.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) is outraged at the prospect of allowing just anyone to receive a major surgery if they entice strangers to pay for it. They argue that My Free Implants trivializes a "significant and dangerous surgical procedure" that should be "life-changing" and advised by multiple doctors.

But the BAAPS is not the only group in opposition. Many women and activist groups are appalled at the idea of near-prostitution through Web sites and insist that it is degrading to all women.

Beyond the surface issues of My Free Implants, including the nature of the male "benefactors" and exploitation of the misguided female contestants, the Web site poses problems on a much larger scale. It is a frightening example of social networking popularity.

The magnitude of influence that certain sites have on society has become evident through the tremendous success of sites such as Facebook, and now Twitter. And that unsupervised influence has the ability to shape gender expectations and hinder any progress towards equality.

With sites such as My Free Implants, participants are not medically examined and never questioned for wanting a breast enhancement. Complete strangers encourage the surgeries through financial investments, reinforcing the rampant use of plastic surgery to conform women to the male ideal.

"I thought I could no longer be appalled by the circus-like atmosphere surrounding plastic surgery," said Adam Searle, former BAAPS President. "But this is really quite shocking."

Not surprisingly, two men created Myfreeimplants.com after feeling sorry for a flat-chested stripper that could not afford breast enhancement surgery. Ironically, they tell the story with an almost philanthropic angle, but don't be fooled -- these entrepreneurs aren't helping women, they are perpetuating gender inequality. In their perfect world, men define women and women rely on men.

The obsession with invading the personal lives of others is enabled through all of the current social networking sites, and has lead to a dangerous exploitation of privacy. The current Internet generation seems to be more concerned with the opinions of virtual strangers rather than real-life companions, allowing any vulnerable woman with a Web cam to be defined by any internet user.

For example, the 2006 suicide of a 13-year-old girl who was harassed by a fake 16-year-old through Myspace reveals the startling degree to which Internet strangers influence others. Though the victim, Megan Meier, did not know the person on the other side of the computer, his "opinions" led her to end her life.

In a less severe, but equally disturbing situation, the women on My Free Implants rely on the opinions, encouragement and money of unknown men to define them and help them reach their "goals." Though they may claim liberation and independence, the Web site is an undeniable throwback to the financially dependent wives of less advanced eras, and the trend is very discouraging.

Unfortunately, My Free Implants, along with every other social network, whether it works for good or evil, continues to get more subscribers who do not grasp the truly invasive or dangerously influential nature of the Internet.