Weblogs and Vlogs

“You are where you post. The layers of our virtual identity are complex these days: Myspace for socializing, Flickr for pictures, YouTube for movies, Netscape for news, ThisNext for products. Our Blogs are for anything and everything and, increasingly, we’re letting it all hang out for anyone to see” (Gould cited in Van Kokswijik, 2007: 94-95)

As the previous two entries have noted, individuality is a major part of the shaping of our online identities. For many people sites such as Facebook and Myspace where they can manage a private profile is enough to build their online identities, for others however there is much appeal in weblogging or ‘blogging’ (Van Kokswijik, 2007: 97). According to Stefanone and Jang (2008) Weblogs or ‘blogs’ are based off a similar idea of a journal or a diary, however with the use of its digital format and internet tools it is similar to a website, the difference being blogs are updated frequently (2008: 123).

Blogs are common forms of media, particularly with aspiring journalists and writers. They allow for knowledge sharing (Hsu and Lin, 2008: 66) and encourage readers to give their input, opinion and constructive criticism. Being able to manage and construct their own blog (Van Koswijik, 2007: 97) designs and codes gives people who blog a stronger sense of identity as they can exercise their control. This would be a major appeal to people trying to establish a strong digital footprint online, as the entire point of a blog is to produce knowledge and appeal to potential ‘followers’.

Blogs are very different to social profile pages because they do not necessary require certain fields of information to either start or exist. An email address and password are the usual terms for creating a blog, the other details are optional. This gives bloggers the option to be whoever they want to be and create an identity through their blog. When considering blog writers it is often noticed that they write with personality. To succeed in blog writing personality is beneficial to gain and maintain interest. From what I have noticed in the past, blogs can be often very much critical of everyday events, norms, social structures and communities, etc.



Also we can consider the perhaps newer blogging phenomenon of ‘Vlogging’ which has particularly skyrocketed the likes of YouTube to fame in the digital world. Video Logs have been beneficial for people to get their voices out, particularly within the younger generations and has also given fame to small time comedians, musicians and writers for their underground talents. RayWilliamJohnson and Nigahiga are two of the most ‘subscribed’ artists on YouTube with millions of subscribers world wide. Vlogging appears to be the middle ground between both blogging and social profiling as the likes of YouTube have set profile structures for users, however the content of videos and profile design is up to the users.

Keeping a blog is a quick way to imprint your identity in the digital age as they are regularly updated, it also allows bloggers to assert their opinions and make connections and communicate with others who may share these opinions.

References:

Hsu, C.L. and Lin, J.C. 2008. Acceptance of Blog Usage: The Roles of technology Acceptance, Social Influence and Knowledge Sharing Motivation, Information and Management, vol. 4, pp. 65-74

Stefanone, M.A. andJang, C.Y. 2008. Writing for Friends and Family: The Interpersonal Nature of Blogs, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, vol . 13, pp. 123-140

Van Kokswijik, J. 2007. Digital Ego: Social and Legal Aspects of Virtual Identity, Eburon Academic Publishers