College.com

Does anyone remember what Facebook used to be like? I do. There weren't a bazillion add-ons that required your social security number, address, and blood type in order to use them. There also weren't pages sponsored by Apple, the CW (formerly the WB), the NBA, and Hillary Clinton.

Most importantly, no one but COLLEGE STUDENTS was allowed to use it. It was so cool. We were all in a special little group.

"Hey, are you on Facebook?"
"Why, yes, I am."
This was followed by a knowing smile that, unlike on MySpace, I could find that person on Facebook by typing in their actual name and get to their page without being accosted by an ad for Match.com. I could also know that the profile of the cute girl in my English class was not actually being run by a 43-year-old bald skeezer.

No longer. Facebook is the wild West, and while it looks clean, it's full of profiles like NFL Boyyy and Deadman Alive. If these are the real names of these people, I'd like to meet their mothers. Facebook looks safe, like a Mustang in the showroom, but let a 16-year-old behind the wheel and you're in for a world of hurt.

But then along came college.com. A savior? I signed up today. I really haven't gotten into it yet, but at least I know there are only college students on it. You have to use your student email to sign up. For lack of a better descriptor, it's like Facebook Classic. Descriptor. That's an SAT word. Sorry, got off on a tangent there. ADD. Or do they call it ADHD now?

Anyway, I'll give it a try. Heck, maybe they'll turn out to be really good. So good, in fact, that they'll apply for a News Challenge grant.

Which is what you should do. Right now. http://www.newschallenge.org

Anthony