So, while talking with my brother on Monday evening, I ask him if he has any ideas for my next article. He sarcastically replies “White boys who blog”. While he meant this in a tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic way, I thought it was a great idea.
(I didn’t tell him that, of course.)
In research for this article, I tried to find the demographic most typical to create, maintain, and use blogs.
I couldn’t figure it out. After a few hours with Google Trends, some research on the net, and reading various articles, I couldn’t find the one group of people most likely to blog.
Now, you might say it’s the younger, male, more socially awkward, with that greenish tint that comes from long hours at the computer.
Fact is, you’d probably be wrong. I know more middle age moms that blog than I do guys my age.
And of the guys my age I know, none of us have that green tint, and most of us have girlfriends.
Weird, huh?
Thing is, this generation is empowering the rest of the world to put themselves out there on the net, to be seen, to be heard, and to live publicly.
With web services like Twitter, Pownce, Myspace, FaceBook, Qik, Skype, Wordpress, and a multitude of others, we can literally publish every minute of our lives online.
What do you think made iJustine so famous? (Its called lifecasting)
My generation grew up feeling distant and disconnected from their peers, haunted by broken families, and having a difficult time opening up to anyone. Turns out, its easier to open up to the anonymous users on the other side of the screen. We are also the first to grow up with the internet as a common tool, taken for granted, and expected to be there for us.
So…are the masses even qualified to do this? To write articles, make movies, post photos, and share their views with the entire world?
That’s the beauty of it, we don’t have to be. Look at Twitter, the premiere micro-blogging site. It asks the question “What are you doing?”
Who cares?
What does it matter that my muffin from star bucks was stale, or how many cigarettes I’ve smoked that day? Obviously someone does care, or twitter wouldn’t have as many followers as it does.
We publish our daily life on the internet, and we will assuredly find someone that is interested in our lives. That’s the beauty of it, that’s what keeps people doing it.
So, while my brother had no idea what thought processes he triggered with his comment, I think this is one of my best posts yet, and sincerely hope that it changes his, and many others minds, to become more open on the net, and take a bigger part in this wonderful thing that is quickly becoming a major, if not essential, part of our world.
If youre not already, follow me on Twitter @stay_calm, and please friends, remember to stay calm.
(And keep telling your friends about this site!!)
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Hey Ev. Very good post. I have a few thoughts on your post:
ReplyDelete1. I think I met some of those "green tinted, socially awkward young males" at Comic Con. haha.
2. I agree user content and user interaction are great and beautiful results of the Internet. But as we've discussed, there's a place for user content and there remains a place for professionally-made, high quality, accurate content.
3. You're right, there definitely is a generational gap between those who grew up with the Internet and those who didn't... but research shows that the gap is shrinking.
4. The concept that Facebook, Twitter and the like are making us more social is a debatable point. Yes, we know the absurd facts of everyone's daily life more, but are we losing the skill of personal interaction? Was it better when we had to rely on face-to-face interaction and phone conversations? I've heard both points debated. True it is easier to stay in touch with people via the Internet, but is it the same as sitting down and having a heart-to-heart talk with the person, or is the person always hidden behind a technology-created veil? I haven't quite decided where I stand yet. That could be a good post.
Well I think this comment is long enough. Keep up the good posts! Later Evan.