Five News crime correspondent Jason Farrell explains how he uncovered evidence of a virtual paedophile ring in Second Life

"The online alternative universe that is Second Life was supposed to offer myriad opportunities for media companies to showcase their wares. Chris Green takes a look at their differing fortunes "

Question marks in a headline usually mean "No". Probably not in this case, though.

Non-sk8er boi Jon Gripton recounts an unsuccessful attempt to interview Avril Lavigne in Second Life for Sky News.

Peter Brantley: "[Recent journalism grad Kara Andrade''s] work … is innovative, almost fearless in its use of social software and new media, and covers interesting subjects. Most recently, Kara created a conversation about "God, Sex, and Family" in Seco

The backlash continues…

"[I]t turns out that plugging products is as problematic in the virtual world as it is anywhere else. … [T]he sites of many of the companies remaining in Second Life are empty."

"[T]he CPM cost for businesses on Second Life is insane: simply even for the very best, the figures don’t add up."

(In German) Second Life will add a filtering system to allow Governments to decide for themselves how local laws will apply in the metaverse, Linden Lab chief exec Philip Rosedale has told the German newsmagazine Focus.

Now Janet Street-Porter thinks the spate of teenage suicides in Northern Ireland has something to do with the Internet: "[T]he internet’s true negative power is to replace real relationships and friendships with cyber pals."

Now the Graun jumps on the Second Life bandwagon. I can hardly contain my fascination.

WAN: Adam Pasick on Reuters’ Second Life Island, Richard Sambrook on the typology of UGC, and REbecca McKinnon on the unequal distribution of media coverage in the world.