Blogs as social networks
Makes a lot of sense. While many people use blogs as easy self-publishing without letting you comment on their blog. Or not responding if they do allow you to comment. But as we've seen here on Blogit for all ages of members, according to this UCLA's Daily Bruin story:
Blogging appeals to college students because it solves the problem of how to quickly form a social network, said communication studies Assistant Professor Francis Steen.
Because knowing about someone's past is often an integral part of forming a friendship, blogs, which let readers surf through past journal entries, are an ideal medium for adding substance to new friendships, Steen said.
"You don't have a history – how do you get to know these people fast? ... These weblogs have become a way for people to deepen their relationships," he said.