America Online was the first drip of the downpour. The advent of AOL Instant Messenger introduced waves of preteens to the new style of communication — social networking. As typing responses to your friends' quips and designing your personal profile with the latest quotes from "Grey's Anatomy" began to age, social networking pulled in its reigns and brought everyone a little closer.

Remember Friendster?

The short-lived forum for detailed profiles and communication quickly gave way to Facebook.

Following its previous examples, MySpace has capitalized on instant communication and accessible information.

In response to the ease of using these forums, the federal government has proposed its solution.

The Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006, or DOPA, is awaiting passage in Congress. As the federal government's answer to Internet predators, the act would effectively require most schools and libraries to render social networking Web sites inaccessible to minors.

A sound solution to a growing problem, right?

Dateline's latest exposés on sexual predators using social networks to reach minors brought attention to a dangerous dilemma.

While actively searching for a solution to limit cases of online insecurity is a worthwhile pursuit, limiting Internet access is the wrong way to go about it.

The greatest achievement of the Internet has been its work in promoting free, uncensored speech. It has become the forum for everything from live journals to personal recipes. The moment any type of federal regulation begins to inhibit the activity on our product of free expression is the moment the idea of censorship becomes real again.

The act is not an answer to the threats of MySpace and other social networks. Rather, it is a limiting factor — the key word being "limiting." If children aren't able to reach MySpace from their high school, they'll wait until they get home.

The act does not hinder minors' access to social networks.

Government-funded high schools will not be the only institutions affected, however. From libraries to community colleges, the Internet will be restricted if the act is passed.

In our democratic society, where free speech is valued above any other amendment, the idea of limiting forums for expression is a blatant act of censorship.