Hacked off

Ah, social networking. Bringer of friends, forger of ties, clogger of inboxes - there's no questioning the world is a better place for the invention of Facebook et al.

But, no matter how we try, we all end up making nice with a few people we'd rather not associate with. And it seems world leaders are no exception.

I learned this week that Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez believes he's had his Twitter account hacked. The South American socialist has apparently seen at least three messages posted by unauthorised users. Bemused Venezuelan officials have reached out to their friends and allies in the US to help fight off the fraudsters.

I reckon the whole thing is part of an elaborate imperialist plot to discredit Chavez and bring him down via the medium of tweet. He's known as a tough cookie, but he's certainly no match for the combined online might of pop foetus Justin Bieber and that bloke from Dude, Where's My Car?