Numerous recent studies point to several different motivations for blogging. . Most people begin blogging as a result of being encouraged to do so by other people. Many also become avid blog-readers prior to deciding to start their own. The main motivations usually include some of the following:

• Social commentary: The early bloggers maintained what were known as “filter-blogs”—that is, most entries consisted of select hyperlinks and excerpts of other news articles that the author found particularly noteworthy. The author would usually also include his or her own commentary. In a way, the readers who frequented these blogs were exposed to a variety of issues that had passed through the filter of the author’s perspective, and some readers appreciated being able to visit one source whose views they finding interesting rather than hunting through various news media sources themselves. Those who keep filter-blogs do so often with the purpose of passing on their views to readers about topics of current interest, ranging from science and technology to politics, religion, and even entertainment. In a sense, the authors act as grass-roots journalists. It is with these sites that the ethics of blogging becomes a more prominent issue.



• Personal journal: The majority of blogs on the Internet today take the form of a personal journal. Frequently, entries give an update on the author’s life—what he did, who he saw, what he was thinking or feeling, etc.. Entries can be short snippets or long descriptions, and most authors try to keep their audiences in mind. The regular readers of these blogs are generally people who have a relationship to the author or who have taken an interest in the day-to-day activities of the author’s life.



• Catharsis or free thinking: many people report using their blog as an outlet for their thoughts and emotions. Sometimes, these authors feel very passionately about a certain issue, either in their personal lives on in the media, and being able to get it out in print and sharing it with others is a way of venting or letting out steam. Similarly, people who feel confused or have a dilemma feel that it is sometimes useful to write out their free-flowing thoughts to help them sort out the problem.



• Community: Some people identify blogging as community building. People who blog about similar things or who are friends—either online or in real life—join in blogging circles where the members frequently read and/or comment on each other’s blogs. In these types of blogs, it is common to see an entry where the author addresses something that was said in someone else’s blog. Blogging communities have formed around similar interests, instituions, geographic locations, or careers.