Personal Blogging

Personal blogging in a world of mass media has created news outlets that are typically less accurate and easier to digest. Bloggers of the world help people with issues ranging from holiday dessert making to deciding who to vote for in the next election, so why are they important?

With the first amendment, people are allowed to say and protest as they please but when it comes to those private thoughts being shared in a public arena that those words protected by freedom of speech can still get you fired from your job. When it comes to blogging, people can anonymously say whatever they would like with no repercussions and find communities that think in a similar way. These online communities can be beneficial in the globalization of issues that can be addressed by millions of people thousands of miles away, but can also help foster communities that will only hurt societies. Online blogging is the most unregulated way for an individual to get their opinion across in such a way that is taken more seriously than a Facebook post, but not as serious as a published news article. Globally, personal blogging can show a multitude of different perspectives on life in other countries that may be perceived as something wildly different than what the mainstream media wants you to think (imagine if people in Wakanda posted blogs about Vibranium before telling the world who they really were.)

In similar ways to mainstream media, bloggers can have biases that come out in their blog posts and should be noted before continuing to take their word as fact. A blog post speaking on issues that have credible news sources cited in their posts are more trustworthy but it is rare that someone reading a blog post is looking for facts, and is more looking to be entertained.

All in all online blogging can be a powerful tool in securing ones freedom of speech and assuring one's voice is heard, but can also be a tool to promote fake news and propaganda.  If you are going to choose reading blog posts as a form of news intake it is crucial as a reader to consider the sources, biases, and overall credibility of the blogs you are reading and taking as fact.