What was this new form of confessional? It was, the author Rebecca Mead explained, "a new kind of Web site that is known as a 'weblog,' or 'blog.' " As she explained, "Having a blog is rather like publishing your own, on-line version of Reader's Digest, with daily updates"; yet with a conversational element: "other people who have blogs—they are known as bloggers—read your blog, and if they like it they blog your blog on their own blog."

Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, loc. 903