It is rather heartbreaking that while many social network users are so busy updating their profiles to flirt, others are using it to promote illegal and life-threatening activities such as organ trading.
According to a news article in India, social networking sites such as Facebook and Orkut are the hubs for buying and selling of kidneys. Orkut allegedly has more than 700 members in 35 communities related to kidney transplant. But that is small compared to thousands of members found in Facebook.
In defense, these networks are exerting efforts to combat the proliferation of such illegal trading. Though I’m not sure how much effort are put into it.
High-tech transgressions like illegal organ trading mirror the social and economic conditions of a country. This business is growing not because many people are willing to donate their body parts in exchange for a few dollars. It’s because many recipients and their relatives are desperately looking for affordable organs to extend their lives.
I won’t be surprised if this illegal kidney trading will expand to other body parts and other third world markets worldwide.
Originally posted on February 18, 2008 @ 8:58 am