I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I think blogging is a slowly dying art. These past few months I've noticed that more and more bloggers are leaving the blogging scene and telling their readers that they can still follow along and see what they're up to elsewhere--on other forms of social media (and I'm not the only one who's noticed!). Once-bloggers are turning into now-instagrammers, tweeters, and the like. It's an interesting trend, if you ask me, and I can't help but wonder why it's happening.
Well, actually, I think it all comes down to time. Priorities change just as life changes and both readers and bloggers are turning to Instagram and Twitter to stay in the loop because it takes less time to read, scroll through, write, and edit posts. And I'm not just blaming the bloggers who are leaving the scene, I'm also thinking it's a reader thing, too. Everyone is short on time and like our fast-paced society, we want our news quick, fast, and easy.
Now, I'm not shaming those of you who follow along on Instagram and Twitter because I love both of those social networks and admittedly use them quite often. I actually really enjoy these networks because I can follow along with people while on the go or during a quick work break. I think these social networks give people a quick glimpse into your life and it's a great way to connect over a few written words and pretty photos.
But as a blogger, I also feel like I need to stand up for blogs and blogging. And despite the time and effort it takes to read through lengthy posts, edit photos, and respond to comments, it's so incredibly worth it. Even though people are quitting the blogging world, I have to say that that makes it all the more reason to keep going. To keep it alive and thriving. To not throw in the towel and fall into peer pressure. But instead, to make your voice known and to get to know the other bloggers out there, too.
So what do you think? Do you think bloggers are turning to instagram and the like? Do you think blogging is a dying art?
I have no idea if that is what is happening haha. I don't really pay attention that much. But I keep blogging because I enjoy it. I have noticed that fewer people comment... but my stats haven't gone down. People read on phones and such now and I hear it's not as easy to comment when doing that.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if blogging is a dying art... there are new ones that pop up all the time. Maybe some feel like they have shared all that they have to share... so they leave the scene and then new ones come on.
I do think people are going to instagram a lot... And I do think we'll continue seeing a big switch over... but I think there will still be a bunch of people who blog. The thing that I think might kill blogging is the constant pursuit of money in it. I think we need to keep in mind why we started blogging and not get too caught up in the business side... else we run the risk of burnout... which might be sending people toward the other venues.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I've witnessed this transition exactly; I've only ever noticed those that quit blogging due to personal situations (and don't invite followers to there social channels), or bloggers who choose to participate in all of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting point though -- I think blogging is more attractive to those that have more to say - who need a platform that provides more than what 140 characters or a square photo can deliver.
I agree with your thoughts. I've started to see this, but from a mama's perspective, I can definitely see how it could easily shift and the desire to put more effort into one site/network/medium would be the preferred way to go. I just can't quit the blogging part though :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. I do think you're correct on time. It is easier to scroll through a tweet than read a blog. A lot of people don't have time. I know mine is limited and I can only really blog once a week maybe twice so it depends.
ReplyDeleteI think if you love to write you will continue to blog or do it isome other way. Is it dying? I'm not sure. I think when one dies another pops up.
But keep on blogging and thanks for posting.
I've noticed this too, while they always tend to be my FAVORITES!, I think you're right. In most of the scenarios, it's because of time. Or the conditions in which they first started writing have changed (from college years into a job that is more demanding, or into motherhood and wanting to give the babes some privacy and choice). I've one seen in one case, Emily Fleming "the doctors fleming" leave because of personal attacks, but usually the transition to Instagram is just an easier alternative. Like, so much percentage of a blog's appeal is supposedly the photos, so why waste all that time writing about things?
ReplyDeleteI'll be in the few that stick around for a while longer, though I don't post frequently enough to get the burnt out on it!
I keep seeing or finding new ones too! I try to search for blogs outside of the current blog "circle" I know, and it has made my bloglovin' feed so much more enjoyable
ReplyDeleteI have noticed the same thing. I find it hard to "find" good, real, sincere bloggers these days. I wonder if it is the average age of bloggers? A lot of us are experiencing life changes (graduating, buying homes, getting married, having kids, etc) so maybe that's part of it? It's quicker and easier to pop in on a social media outlet? Despite everything, I blog because I enjoy it. And I try to take time (once or twice a week) to go through my reader list and leave comments, because we all love comments, right? Gotta love this community, even if we are taking advantage of social media more frequently. :)
ReplyDeletei totally agree! whether it's time or lifestyle changes or whatever the case is - i have noticed this, too. a couple of my favorite blogs have either stopped blogging or only post a few times a month. it's such a bummer, but i am grateful for ladies like you who continue to share truth and stand up for the art that blogging truly is. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the blog world is undergoing some serious purging right now. It makes me sad on one hand, but then, there is still this HUGE (and growing) group of people who are committed to blogging and I am really glad.
ReplyDeleteLet's stick it out together, because I think it's really worth it! :)
I see it all as one and the same, honestly. I started blogging initially as a way to keep friends and family in the loop about our first child, then kind of stopped -- yes, because of time -- but it wasn't that big of a deal to me in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThen Facebook happened, and there wasn't any need to blog anymore.
Then Twitter happened, then Instagram.
I was led BACK to blogging, actually, because all of the other social media that's out there. You're not limited to a certain number of letters, and if people don't want to see what you have to say, they don't have to click through to the link. (With other Social Media, if they don't want to see what you have to say, they may end up hiding or un-following, which I think is a little harsh.)
I HOPE blogging is not a dying art, because I *love it* and am relatively new to it, still!
I don't think blogging is dying, I think it's just changing with different bloggers becoming popular... But I could very well be wrong. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI surely hope that blogging ISN'T dying off. I do know what you mean though, there are a lot of bloggers who have fallen off the wagon lately, which there is nothing wrong with. Blogging is totally different than just being an instagram account that people like to follow. So so different.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of too many leaving! Tell me who! What did I miss!?
ReplyDeleteI think you have it right, though. I think time-wise, people are turning to what is quickest. I do find it sad, but they must not truly love the art of writing, you know? Or if they do, they won't stay away long. I have wondered, though, "how long will I be able to blog? When will it have to end?" I figure there must be some time that it has to end, I just wonder when.
I love what you said about blogging because YOU enjoy it. Honestly, I think that is so key when it comes to blogging. We have to do it because we enjoy it, not because we feel obligated or anything like that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also like what you said about people reading blogs on phones. I think that is SO true and something I can be guilty of as well. It definitely does cut down on comments, but that's interesting that it hasn't affected stats! :)
And I do think that there are a lot of bloggers popping up here and there. I feel like a lot of the "big" blog I've read over time have slowly taken breaks or stopped blogging because of the time/commitment involved, but I love that there are always new reads out there!
Ooh, I like that idea! I feel like I tend to read a lot of blogs within the same circle but I loooove discovering new reads! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've noticed that trend, too! I feel like people are turning to instagram and/or are leaving the blogging scene because of the money aspect of blogging (part of the reason why I don't want to pursue that at the moment!). I feel like when blogging turns into a business thing, it can suck a little bit of the joy out of it (just because of the time, commitment, and pressure that comes with getting paid). But like you said, we also need to really remember why we started blogging and why we enjoy it so much, too! :) Wise words, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI've seen that, too! I feel like there are tons of reasons why people leave the blogging scene and personal situations are definitely one of those!
ReplyDeleteAnd YES! I definitely agree that blogging is more attractive to those who like to write and express themselves in more than 140 characters. You probably already know how wordy I can be, but I definitely could not sum up my life in 140 characters on a regular basis! :)
I'm glad you've noticed that, too! I feel like it's something that's been happening and was always wondering if I was the only one who noticed. I'm not blaming them for quitting, but I just think it's important that we try and stop blog burnout so it doesn't keep happening! :) Because like you, blog reading is a part of my daily routine now and something I can't stop doing! :)
ReplyDeleteI totally understand! I'm not a mom (and so I probably won't fully understand until I am!), but I do know how time-consuming things can be and how family needs to be put first before social media. But like you, I don't know if I could ever quit the blogging part either! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I do think that a lot of people are short on time. I know what it's like to balance life and a full-time blog and then blog on the side (for purely "hobby" and community purposes). It's hard, and sometimes blogging gets put last on the list of priorities.
ReplyDeleteBut like you said, if you have the passion for it, you WILL blog. :)
I also love what you said about one blogging dying and another popping up! I've noticed that trend as well and it makes the farewells a lot easier, that's for sure!
So many truthful words, girl! Thanks for sharing. :)
So glad you've noticed, too! I definitely think it's happening to a lot of my faves, too!! And I have also noticed that life changes affect blogging as well. I love it when bloggers share about their life during each season, but I do understand why things like motherhood take precedence over social media and blogging.
ReplyDeleteAnd what you said about Instagram being an easy alternative because it's photo-based? SOOO true. I'm not bashing Instagram (because I love it and photography!) but I think it's an easy transition for a lot of bloggers out there because of the photos you can share there.
So glad you're sticking around (and are back!!!). We need more honest writers out there. :)
Same! I think that honesty and vulnerability are hard to come by and that's why it's SO hard for me to move one when a fave blogger of mine takes a break or quits. It's crazy how I feel like I'm such a huge part of their life even if I don't really know them. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I also love what you said about blogging because YOU enjoy it. That is so crucial, in my opinion, and one of the reasons why I'm still going!
I've also got to say that you're spot on when it comes to community and comments. So much truth in that, girl! :)
Lifestyle changes are definitely a reason that a lot of bloggers are leaving these days. I don't blame people for leaving, but it is reallllly sad to see them go because I get so attached to them! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd when bloggers do leave the blogging scene, it definitely makes me grateful for the ones who choose to stay. Blogging is amazing and it's changed my life in so very many ways--especially because of friends like you!
Agreed! It makes me really sad to see my favorite bloggers go (it's like a sad goodbye party!) but I think it also lets more bloggers enter the scene, making the goodbyes a little easier on me. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, yes, yes! We have GOT to stick together and stick with it. Blogging is just too amazing not to. :)
I loved hearing about your blogging story, Tawni! I feel like there's something so special about blogging and it really is irreplaceable, in my opinion. Like I've mentioned, I LOVE Instagram and am starting to really like Twitter, but it's just not the same as blogging. So glad you've returned to it and are sticking with it, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree! I don't think it's necessarily dying, but I do think that there are lots of reasons why bloggers are leaving the blogging scene. I'm not blaming them for leaving, but it does make me sad to see bloggers change with time! :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I think that blogging isn't necessarily dying, per se, but it's just changing with time. I think that's to be expected, but it's just sad to see some of my favorite bloggers change and leave the scene as the years go by. I guess I just get too attached? :)
ReplyDeleteAnd like you said, blogging is definitely different from instagram! There's something so very special about blogging. So very, very special! :)
I think a lot of my favorite "big" bloggers have left recently. Young House Love is taking a break, Annapolis and Co. took a blogging break/leave of absence, and a few others have as well (I just can't think of their names off the top of my head!). I don't blame them or am mad at them for leaving, but it IS sad to see them go. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I completely agree with you on loving writing. I think that's definitely a huge part of blogging and why I love it so much. :)
I have asked myself those SAME questions. When I got my domain, I wondered how many years to get it for because I just don't know how long I'll blog for, too! :)
I'm still here! I'm still here! Even when the blog seems slow and lonely (aka not updated). I think a big part of it is transitions, like you said. Life changes and so many things happen, that we feel like we have to pick and choose something over another. At least, that is how it has been for me the past couple of months. Although I miss posting often (or at all), I want my readers (friends!) to come back to some quality. There's a lot happening in my life and I want to share it. And we do like for things to be quick, fast, and easy. But, like you also said, taking the time to actually visit someone's place and leave a quick comment is so worth it. If I didn't do that, I wouldn't have some great friends. ;)
ReplyDeleteGirl, I'm so glad you're still here! I think that life changes and different seasons in life do demand more of our time, and thus blogging gets put farther down on our priority lists. BUT, I love that you're still sticking with it. Having a passion for blogging and the blogging community is so key when it comes to preventing burnout and sticking with it because you enjoy it is important, too. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I also agree with you on taking the time to read and comment. Friendships from blogging are THE best!!
I love this post Kiki. I am a fairly new blogger and this is kind of my fear that I jumped in at the end when it was pointless. But I love it and don't want to (and won't) stop. I feel that maybe there is going to be this revival and the ones who are sticking this Lull out are going to see something awesome on the other side.
ReplyDeleteChristine
Thanks! I hope I write enough to be considered "back" haha. I love instagram too, but I couldn't use that as my primary creative outlet. I feel a bit handicapped when it comes to it because it IS photo based, and the majority of my talent is in writing a winded post rather than a profound 2 sentence caption. Plus, how are people's iphone photos so good all the time?!
ReplyDeleteAs a blogger who gave up, I wholeheartedly agree with everything in this post + a lot of what people have said in the comments! I missed blogging + the community here so much that I'm planning re-launching my blog really soon.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that I LOVE instagram. I think when I start blogging again I will have to set different sorts of 'strategies' for each of them though. I don't love reading the same story on a blog (but longer) as I saw 3 days ago on their instagram account.
I am so sad that A&Co left. Her pictures and writing were just.... Oh man amazing.
ReplyDeleteI just feel like I keep getting less comments. I have to fight the urge to get dramatic and be all EVERYONE HATES MY BLOG. I mean, maybe they do. Maybe I've gotten boring? I don't know. But someone else said their stats haven't really taken a hit, and I think that's true for me, so I think people are reading just not commenting...
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'm off topic. Sorry.
Yes. Bloggers leaving. I scrolled through these comments and saw someone mention the money aspect. I hate to say this, but when I see that a blog I read is starting sponsorships, my initial reaction is noooooo. I'm such a spoil sport. If that's what they want to do, I say go for it! But it does seem like a lot of bloggers I follow have gone BACK to not doing sponsorships because it ends up not being worth the time. Blogging really does take so much time, and I think the reason I've been able to enjoy it for 4.5 years without taking more than a week's break is because I don't put any pressure on myself. I write WHEN and IF I want to write, and if I don't, I don't. That's the only way it can be fun for me. (Except when the aforementioned self-doubt kicks in, and then I have to force it back into the black hole it crawled from.)
(*Also, can we talk about A&CO and how sad I am that she quit her blog? Someone left a comment asking her why, and she linked to the post she wrote on Gwyneth Paltrow's divorce about how we as readers aren't "owed" anything by writers and we shouldn't speculate about other people's lives. I wonder if people were doing that to her... which makes me annoyed/perturbed on her behalf. She will be a missed voice in my feed.)
The end.
Thanks, Christine! I was really hoping people would understand what I was saying and would just get what I was saying, you know?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, keep on blogging! Like all things in life, blogging does have its ups and downs and if you have the passion for it, then that's what's most important (that's what keeps me going!).
And I love what you said about sticking with it and having something awesome coming in the future for us. That's definitely the optimistic spirit we need! :)
I'm glad you agree, Francesca! The blogging community is HUGE and it's the main reason why I love to blog and will stick with it as long as I can.
ReplyDeleteAnd like you, I also loooove Instagram. It's so much fun and definitely a great social media network! But like you, I definitely think there's a balance between re-posting or posting twice on different networks and sharing original content, too. Let me know how yours strategy works out! :)
Umm, NOBODY HATES YOUR BLOG. My goodness, girl don't go there! Even though, I myself do that allll the time. I don't really follow my stats, but I do think that a lot of people read and don't comment (I'm guilty of that, too, though, so what am I saying?).
ReplyDeleteAnd I also LOVE what you said about sponsorships and money. SPOT ON. I have those same thoughts, too! Whenever I see people starting sponsorships I cringe because I think it really changes the environment on their blog. I think it turns a once-passion into a job and like a lot of jobs, burnout often takes place. And I hate that because blogging should be a passion, you know? NOT a job. And like you said, I've been at the blogging scene for a few years now and have loved it. I tried swapping and stuff but even that was too much for me. I like blogging on my own time and for myself. :) So you're definitely not alone!
Also, YESSSSS. So sad to see Annapolis and Co. leave the blogging scene. She was by far my first and bestest blogging inspiration out there and it was really sad to see her leave. I don't blame her, though (or any blogger who leaves the scene!) but it is sad to see her leave. And even sadder if that reasons was the case!
And can I just say how much I loved reading this comment of yours? SO many great thoughts!
GIRLLLLL. I'll keep blogging!! But I totally know what you are saying. I think it is kinda like books = people go through phases but books will never lose their value. There is an intrinsic value to the written word. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteWhat she said. :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me like a matter of dynamic instability... some bloggers are leaving the blogosphere, but others are popping up and establishing new sites. Overall, I don't think I've noticed the number of bloggers shrinking. Just some leaving and some coming. Then again, I'm so stuck in the college bubble that I haven't been paying much attention to the "outside world," so what do I know anyway?
ReplyDeleteOoh, so much truth in that! I never really thought much into how it relates to books and how blogging (reading and commenting and stats included!) goes through phases and seasons, too. :) And we definitely need more bloggers who will stick with it. You, @Samantha@Elah Tree , and @Meg McIlvaine included!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I feel like there's always going to be a coming and going when it comes to blogging. And like you said (and very well, if I should add!) it is something of a matter of instability. I never would have thought of it like that if you didn't mention it to me! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd girl, you know so much! Keep on sharing it, too!
yes!
ReplyDeletei've seen a FEW bloggers call it quits (maybe not as many as you?) - but to me, i don't think blogging will ever really die. i mean it is a huge trend right now (to those of us IN the blogging world) but those that don't blog - tey still have no idea and don't get it, so i think there is always room for surprise. i can remember how i stumbled onto the blogging world today (i looked up a diy tutorial for something in my home - and stumbled across young house love and i was hooked!)
I agree with you in the sense that I think blogging will always be around. I guess when I said that blogging is dying art, I meant that it seems like a lot of long-time and/or those BIG bloggers out there seem to be slowly getting burned out or have found other sources of income or interest to follow, you know?
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE your story about stumbling into the blogging world! Leave it to John and Sherry to solve your DIY projects around the house!
its an interesting thing isn't it and i KNOW it's definitely time. I also feel that some people would get put off by the 'silent rules' that seem to be associated in blogging too. i know i don't post nearly as much as I should and that is yes time - but i do it when i feel i want to do - not for everyone else. whereas there is an unspoken rule i feel that you have to blog every day or numerous times a week if you want to have lots of followers....so therefore if people don't i guess they lose followers or drive to keep going because they aren't getting that outcome they wanted.
ReplyDeletethats just my little opinion :) the best thing to do with it is definitely to do it for YOU because otherwise you will find you lack the motivation and to understand that if you don't want to one day....don't I guess - thats what i do but thats because i enjoy doing it when i can. and i like to see what others are up to - even if not commenting a lot (because yes the whole annoying mobile thing) its still a way to really be a part of someones life!
definitely a snap shot society though agree TOTALLY with that. And its easier - i do it myself some days but i love both.
good post you have my brain going haha.