So we’ve covered what blogs are in the previous post. We’ve also covered that there is no real contention for the definition of a blog, where some such as Arrington would argue that audience interaction begets the definition. Regardless of whether that is a necessary component or not, blogs really have taken off for people to express themselves online easily. Back in seemingly ages past, personalised web pages were the way to go there, all hail Geocities. Not so now, of course, as with the advent of blogging, the sheer number of blogs available today is overwhelming.
Research by Rainee (2005) shows that blogging has been steadily expanding. Not just those that are authors of blogs of course, with having 8 million bloggers in the
Lenhant, Horrigan & Fallows (2004) have data that support this, where only 2% of the internet users surveyed had a blog, and only 10% of those bloggers updated daily. However, 11% of the survey respondents were said to be visiting blogs and they most frequently visited online diaries of friends (56%), strangers (46%) and family members (25%). It should be noted that like Rainee's research, it is also based in the United States (do not worry, we shall cover more this in more international terms soon).
That blogging has taken off in recent years in not in doubt. Millions of blogs of all topics available by millions of people, and even more people read those blogs. While the numbers show just how many are actively involved in blogs, not much light is shed on the character behind blogging – what kind of people are they?
Popular online columnist, and cynic, Dvorak (2002) has some thoughts on this. He contemplated on several possible reasons exactly why people blog. First up, he highlighted ego gratification, where the blog author needs their accomplishments or achievements to be validated online. Secondly, differentiation, using the blog as a tool to somehow show that the author stands out. Third, the elimination of frustration to give an opportunity to relax. Fourth, the need to share information. Finally, he says there are those using the blog as a way to make them fill their (possible) aspirations of being a writer.
Is it true then? Do people blog to fill some void in their life or to feel some sense of gratification knowing that they have put up information online? It is definitely a cynic’s view and musings, and therefore not all encompassing and conclusive. Other alternative views on why people blog exist, such as this one by Dave Taylor and this one by Amit Agarwal, but really, there is not much overlapping elements behind the motivations. Blogs are a very personalised tool that changes from user to user, since the content is entirely up to them and thus gaining any insight into the character of a blog author is a difficult feat indeed, much less to generalise it.
In short, blogging has really taken off on the internet. The fact that there is no real barrier to anyone getting a blog short of a horrible or nonexistent internet connection really helps pretty much anyone get their hands on a blog, or even multiple blogs. The motivation of getting one changes by person to person, but perhaps therein lies the appeal. There is a blog for everyone and if by the off chance there isn’t one suited for their purpose, then they can just go ahead and make one.
It is free after all.
References
Dvorak, JC 2002, The Blogging Phenomenon, PCMag.com, viewed 29 April 2008, <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,81500,00.asp>
Lenhart, A, Horrigan, J, Fallows, D 2004, Content Creation Online, viewed 29 April 2008, <http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Content_Creation_Report.pdf>
Rainee, L 2005, The state of blogging, viewed 29 April 2008, <http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_blogging_data.pdf>
