Read your article with interest. As someone knew to social media I too have been researching. My thoughts are that Social media is self perpetuating. We socialise via every medium be that the old fashioned "face to face", through to social networking sites such as facebook. The blogs, and their comments are just another method. The internet has enabled people to gain access to a global audience and thus establish a certain credibility through the number of social visits. http://juliebest20@word