Almost half of those online in Asia have a blog. (Microsoft 2006). CN (2008) states that, an alarming 50% of people regard blogs as a reliable news source showed in their research. According to Microsoft.com (2006), 48% bloggers in Malaysia post entries about their perception about the ‘world around them’ and ‘64% of bloggers are women’. The balance 49% said they blog to keep up with friends and family’ (Microsoft 2006).
In Europe, however, blogging is not as prominent as it is in Asia and America. Brook (2006) reported that somewhat 30 % of people in Britain had ‘never heard of blogs’ and surprisingly the readers who would actually visit blogs account for only 10 %. BBC (2006) states that blogging is an off and on thing as many people who were interested in it are now bored and have stopped blogging. Nevertheless, the blogging phenomenon is picking up its pace in Europe recently.
What is a "weblog"?
The term "weblog" was first used by Jorn Barger on his Robot Wisdom website in 1997 (Auburn 1999, and Blood 2000). Werbach (2001)states, there are many websites that are frequently updated but what makes a "Weblog" is that it's organized chronologically and designed for short, frequent updates. In other words, "Weblogs" represent the online intersection of people and time.
Blog It!
Why do people blog? If this question was asked to people who blog,you will receive numerous answers however some of the standard reason you will receive will be "We want to be heard".It's to have a voice, however small. People like the ability to be able to express themselves and who they really are to others.it's to have a voice, however small. Blogging is all about having opinions. It is different than writing in a journal or a diary because journals are written in general for one person, the author of the journal to keep his thoughts, notes, and observations of life, for his own reasons.
Image of what people get when they blog.
Source: (GoogleImages, 2009)
Those journals are locked up tight and not accessible to the public whereas writing blogs online not only enables the user to express their thoughts and viewpoints about a certain topic, it also allows readers to create a medium of discussion with a specific group of audience interested in the topic even if at the initial stage there are no followers. There is always potential for responses unlike websites which are static and has no audience engagement.On the contrary, some people blog to make money which is by using advertising that is related to their topic to monetize their blog as stated by Ezillon Infobase (2007). A popular way of monetizing a blog is to use the Google AdSense program.
What are some of the benefits bloggers receive?
Blogs have proven to be a useful and beneficial tool to the general public at large for instance in Malaysia, with the emergence of many political blogs, citizens are being well educated and informed about the Government. They now have the mainstream media and another alternative media; blogs, to help them shape their ideas and viewpoints as well as be more critical citizens of the country. Besides that, social blogs allow family members and friends to keep in touch with one another. As for business blogs and technological blogs, Malaysians can keep abreast with current developments and issues in the business and technology arena.
Image of what people get today now that there is blogs
Source: (GoogleImages, 2009)
About Us 2008, Technorati.com, viewed 5 June 2009,
<http://technorati.com/about/>
Atwell, P 2009, Why do people blog?, viewed 6 June 2009,
<http://www.helium.com/items/1442793-why-do-people-blog>
BBC News 2006, Blogging 'set to peak next year', viewed 7 June 2009,
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6178611.stm>
Brook, S 2006, Blogs struggle to impress in UK, Guardian, viewed 4 June 2009, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jun/20/pressandpublishing.newmedia>.
CN 2008, Blogging Phenomenon Sweeps Asia, viewed 6 June 2009,
<http://www.centernetworks.com/blogging-phenomenon-sweeps-asia>
Ezilon Infobase 2007, Why do people blog?, viewed 7 June 2009,
<http://www.ezilon.com/articles/articles/3838/1/Why-Do-People-Blog%3F>
JMZine.com 2001, The Blogging phenomenon viewed 5 June 2009,
<http://www.ajy.net/jmb/blogphenomenon.htm>
Microsoft.com 2008, Women Rule in Malaysian Blogosphere, viewed 5 June 2009, <http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/press/archive2006/linkpage4337.mspx>
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