While millions continue to log into social networking sites like Orkut and Facebook to make friends and socialise, a small but growing number of individuals are also logging on to share not only their personal problems but also to find solutions for them.
Social networking sites are are increasingly taking the shape of the new age online ‘agony aunt’.
“I had lost faith in destiny until I found a kidney transplant community on Orkut, and users with similar problems supported me by writing their experience,” said Sarath Kumar from Hyderabad, who is searching for a kidney donor.
“They were people who told me what to do, what precautions to take and even suggested names of good doctors who I could get in touch with,” he said.
Moreover, with hundreds of help communities coming up – cancer, heart breaks and so on – the sites’ popularity seem to be rising. 
Many non-members also participate in discussion threads of these social networking groups.
“Freshers joined my community and discussed things like anti-ragging rules and how to go about with admission procedure,” said Sashank Nair, who started a community for first year under-graduate students.
But illegal activities like trading kidneys can also happen on these sites. “Every step is being taken to control illegal activities on Orkut,” a company release stataed.
Atul Yadav, a member of an epilepsy community on Orkut, said he was under medication for 12 years. “I felt I was the only one who has to undergo this. But I was amazed to discover many people with bigger problems than mine. We stay in touch and this motivates me,” he said.