Why do teens blog?

For some it's a kind of therapy, the Baltimore Sun reports in a thorough look at the state of teen blogging today. It cites the view of one psychology professor that "blogs may have become popular vehicles of self-expression for the same reasons that some people prefer undergoing therapy via computer: They can have intimate exchanges without being face to face." One 17-year-old cited says it's cleansing to put "love-hate" lists in her blog. Then there's the adolescent "quest for attention," which causes bloggers to exaggerate their moodes and feelings in their online journals. The Sun also looks at whether parents check their kids' blogs. Some do, some don't, the latter from either "lack of vigilance" to a concern about privacy. The latter just doesn't make sense, though, when journal entries are typed before an international public audience! Lots of interesting anecdotes in this article about how teens and parents are handling this new phenomenon in their lives.