This is a nice little site that might the hold the seeds of future niche media networks. Matt Bob Jones is an 18-year old college student in Mesa, AZ who just happens to have been dabbling in web design since he was 12. (When I was 12, I thought I was ahead of the curve because I knew about modems and email.)  He started a network of teen blogs: "Random Shapes features the best teen blogs on the web in an attempt to encourage good blogging among teens."  Teenagers who want to join have to submit their website and an application message to the existing members, who then vote on acceptance or denial. Jones say 56 members have been accepted out of 200-odd applications.  Right now membership means links on the site and access to forums. For Jones this network is still a hobby, and his traffic is currently in the hundreds of visitors.

But in a world with a gajillion instant, cluttered MySpace & Friendster blogs, it's refreshing to come across an organically grown teen network that has some elegantly designed sites.