When Frank Sinatra once sang "Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today, I want to be a part of it," he had no idea that today, with the same enthusiasm, hordes of users would flock to virtual social online networks. Suddenly, one has 1000 friends, most of whom they have never met. People share with strangers where they are currently on vacation, or they create a fan page for bonsai enthusiasts on Facebook. How are social networks changing our friendships and relationships? The book "Wa(h)re Freunde" attempts to provide some answers to this question. It shows how economic interests lie behind all networks and why this shouldn't necessarily concern the individual user. New considerations about the concept of "friendship" are presented and then compared with a changing reality. Why should the baker's wife know...