History
A blog is a personalized website or part of a website maintained by an individual. The term was blended from the word “Web-log”. It was first created in 1997 in the U.S. Blogs were originally used as a personalized diary format published online. Nowadays, blogs are more of an interactive website where authors post entries and visitors leave comments or message each other as a function of creating new communities.
Functions
The popularity of blogs increased because bloggers are able to record their everyday thoughts and post them chronologically. It also makes data management possible. In addition, bloggers can save, hide, and send posts to other users. Compared to usual community bulletin boards, blogs focus more on contents and common interests between other bloggers, thus, can function as online communities. Moreover, bloggers are able to “follow” their friends’ blogs or other bloggers creating a new social networking scene. Chatting and messaging is also available, and chat histories are recorded by date.
Types
Types of blogs include personal, organizational and differs by genre, media type and device. Personal blogs are usually a diary-like, commentary by an individual. This type of blog is most commonly used in the online community because it is a way to reflect on bloggers’ lives or to reveal their thoughts and personalities. Some blogs such as Twitter allow bloggers to share thoughts and feelings instantaneously with friends and family. On the other hand, organizational blogs are usually used for business purposes. It is used to enhance communication in a corporation for marketing purposes. These blogs are most likely to be formal and educational compared to personal blogs.
Some popular blogging websites include Tumblr(http://www.tumblr.com/ ), Blogspot(http://blogger.com ), Wordpress(http://wordpress.com ), Livejournal(http://livejournal.com ), Vox (http://vox.com ), Typepad(http://typepad.com ) and Travelpod(http://www.travelpod.com/ ).
Popularity
In 2010, eMarketer reported the continued rise of blogging in the U.S. Statistics show that more than half of web users read blogs. By 2014, it has been predicted that readership will rise to more than 150 million Americans, or 60% of the internet population in the U.S.
The number of bloggers is also increasing—by 2014, it is predicted that 13.3% of the online population will update a blog at least monthly. eMarketer senior analyst Paul Verna commented, “Trends in blog reading are expected to maintain an upward course as blogs continue to gain influence in the mainstream media. But there is a caveat to this forecast: Over time, blogs will continue to become indistinguishable from other media channels.”
Although blogs were first introduced in the U.S, the popularity of blogs is also significantly increasing in other countries, especially in Asia. Because of Asia’s strong culture among people, whenever a popular blog hits the media, it takes just seconds for it to catch attention. In South Korea, for example, there is a huge trend in bloggers especially who are female in their 20s. These young female bloggers post ways to cook, apply makeup or make natural beauty products at home by posting quality pictures and step-by-step procedures in a fun, amusing way to attract viewers. These bloggers even raffle out prizes or online money and points to its fans as a strategy to market their own blogs. In many cases, when these blogs reach high popularity, they even start their own businesses.
Impact in Culture
Now that we are living in such a culture where social networking is vital, blogs left an indelible mark on society. Blogs are reshaping our notion of how content is created and information is disseminated. From launching businesses, reaching out to supporters in presidential campaigns, or sharing personal memories and tales with friends, blogs are widely used and impacts on a variety of facets of daily life. This is possible because blogs are used as tools that can be accessed anywhere to connect with people around us.
References
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