[cathrithbo]

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

There are plenty of activities that may seem to an outsider to be a waste of time. Daydreaming, for example.

(Just don't tell that to Albert Einstein who used to daydream about travelling on a wave of light.)

Even supposing that social networking is some sort of vice, it's easy to think of much more harmful alternatives.

[AlexandrB]

> Even supposing that social networking is some sort of vice, it's easy to think of much more harmful alternatives.

If a vice is less harmful but more widespread is it better or worse than the alternative? E.g. Facebook vs. World of Warcraft

[cathrithbo]

With vices I suspect that it isn't just the activity concerned but the purpose, which varies from person to person.

e.g. TV can be used to educate but it can also be used to distract

That said, some vices may be worse than others. In the case of social networking, I guess the obvious alternative is going to parties which are OFC a gateway to alcohol consumption.