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In general, I agree, but speaking as a secondary school teacher, I have seen these things pay real dividends for some kids in terms of social contact. Kids who are a bit unusual in various ways or who have unusual interests, who can't find other kids like them or who share those interests in their own schools or communities and who do manage to find others who fit the bill online.

Yes, kids can take it too far - but in moderation a lot of these things have real positives too.

We don't do the whole summer camp thing in Australia, it's not really part of our culture, but if we did, I really wouldn't want to put kids who have managed to find friends - real friends - online in a situation where they are forced to break contact with those friends for weeks at a time.

I do have to say, though, that I'm also somewhat concerned by this statement:

So when the 17-year-old was looking for a summer camp, he ruled out a church camp with a no cell phone, no computer policy.

One of the big problems I see with a lot of kids today is that parents are giving them too much choice. I don't think even most 17-year-olds should be 'ruling out' things of this magnitude - the decision should be with the parents.

OK, maybe a camp doesn't matter that much - but I teach at one of the most expensive, prestigious schools in my country - and it astonishes me when I encounter parents who say: "We wanted to send our son there, but he refused to go." or "We gave him a choice and he chose this school."

People are giving kids way too much choice. Listen to their input, sure, and more and more as they get older - but the adults should make the actual decisions.