Are blogs really making a comeback?
Well, I hope they are.
Well, blogs really didn’t go away. They just took a backseat because users favored social media to search for recommendations on what’s cool, hip, or trending. There was a time when social media used to be fine.
Back in the day, our timelines were chronological. This meant that we fairly had an idea of what was happening at the moment (or the time when something happened). We were not mindless zombies or helpless robots that were powerlessly fed by the algorithm. We were actually more in control of what we wanted to consume. Well, that was almost two decades (or so) ago.
Plus, we loved to blog at that time. Oddly, even without SEO, we discovered blogs a lot at that time. Somehow, reading a blog felt like conversing with another human being. They pour their thoughts into their blogs, and we respond to that via comments (or Twitter, if it were posted online). We blog hopped, and we thought that was fun. Even if it were online, it still felt like human interaction.
All of that changed in the last 10 years (or so) when the timeline was dictated by the algorithm. Data and information were shoved down our throats whether we like or not. I think people eventually got tired of all the noise, garbage, and clutter on social media (I see a lot of users on TikTok saying how they became tired of the toxicity on Facebook, etc.).
For that, I believe people are gradually gravitating towards blogs again. Not just blogs, though, but personal blogs because they feel more authentic and warm. In short, blogs feel more human. I think that’s also the reason why some people these days trust reviews they see on blogs instead of viral social media posts. Think of food vloggers who say everything they try is good, or portions that are not the same for regular customers versus vloggers, and many more.
As someone who never let go of blogging, this makes me happy. Thanks also to Substack, I have found a platform where my writing and thoughts can be appreciated beyond the algorithm and SEO.
I hope blogging will continue to thrive, and platforms like Substack will continue to nurture those who love writing. I hope more people (Filipinos and Gen Zs, most especially) become more appreciative of the art of writing. It’s really relaxing, taking one’s mind off the noise and stress of the outside world. It’s also a good outlet to vent out one’s emotions if no one else will listen to you.
For myself, blogging allowed me to fulfill my dream of being a writer. That alone endeared me to this craft. On the other hand, I look forward to the day when people will again be more appreciative of long-form written content.
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