It is a little surprising how many personal blogs have “gone dark” this year. And the ones that are still around, just don’t have the same vitality and energy as they once did. (This blog v. much included in that statement). There really hasn’t been any fresh new voices to take up the slack either, at least not that I’m aware of. I like this semi-new blog, but that’s about it.
Why the decline in personal blogs? Part of the reason I think has just been a shift to social networking sites, first Myspace and now Facebook. (If anyone’s not on Facebook, get on it now!).
Also: eventually you just run out of things to say. I maybe have a few more posts in me on dating, or personal finance, but have already blogged about most of the obvious topics.
Thirdly, to some extent all these personal blogs are cults of personality. It’s neat to find a fresh new voice who might post something different — or politically incorrect or personally revealing. But once you get to know someone’s personality, their shtick isn’t new anymore. And once a personally-revealing blog gets an audience, it’s really hard to bare your soul (or love life, or what have you) to hundreds of people.
Maybe a lot of it was just a bubble — an orgy of pent-up self-expression by people who didn’t have an outlet for it before? But now that they have, the moment has passed?
But, I do plan on sticking with this blog. Even if just my friends and family read it — and even if I only think of something semi-witty to say every week or so — it is still a more-convenient way of updating people on my life than email.
Don’t you think that some people also have found that blogs cause more trouble than they’re worth? If you get into a good relationship and you write about it every day on a blog, it can put it in jeopardy – but if you don’t keep up with it you lose readers.
Mmm, but I think all personal blogs have declined, not just dating blogs.
I think blogs lose steam because you run out of fresh things to say. Really, you can have the most riveting dating blog in a while– but do you want to date forever? Once you find someone, the blog either changes or loses its initial appeal. You need to be passionate about something to keep it fresh, and we all change over time, the appeal of so writing about ourselves changes too.
Interesting observation…
I think part of it is the cost (time, energy, thought) that it takes to consistently say something interesting that people will read. I heard recently that something like two-thirds of blogs haven’t been updated in the last two months. Not really surprising, but I think it says something about how people often jump into this and then leave it as fast. Few people really want to keep a public journal, which is often what personal blogs end up being.
Derek, thanks for hanging in there. I, too, was sad about NYFlyGirl going off the air and I stopped reading blogs altogether for some time. And my own is pretty stale, I’m sure you’ll agree. Perhaps the cooling winds of fall will bring something new and different for all of us.
Sorry to hear about you and C parting, but actually happy you’re moving; I think you’ll like TriBeCa. Just don’t drink the Kool-Aide.