Is nothing safe from Facebook, the networking site that makes our children anti-social, perhaps suicidal?

Today the company teams up with Nintendo to make it easier for DSi owners to upload pics taken on their handhelds directly to their Facebook profile. This is available through a free system update - which may also wipe out any flash carts you might own. So proceed with caution, or not at all, if games piracy is more your thang than updating your Facebook profile.

From the sound of it, the Facebook DSi application is simple enough. Users thumb through the pics stored on the DSi Camera album and tap the Facebook icon on the touch screen to transmit photos to their Facebook profiles. Of course they need their wireless broadband switched on and working. Now for a portentous quote from Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s sales and marketing boss.

“Facebook and Nintendo DSi build on the trend of personalization that is so important to consumers. We’re giving people the tools to express themselves in creative new ways and show off the results to their friends and family on Facebook.”

Which is nice.

And if you are worried about Sexting 2.0, don't, says Nintendo: "Remember that Nintendo DSi features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access."

Launched this year, the DSi is an early runaway success, shipping more than 1.7 million units in the US alone, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm. By now, Nintendo has probably sold a similar number in Europe. However, games sales are said to be falling and all games manufacturers are suffering. Time will tell soon enough if this simply the summer doldrums or a sign of recession pressures.