Blogs are increasingly dominance with the growing of online communication technology nowadays. A blog is a form of web publishing maintained by individual where personal opinions, events or comments are posted up and share with the world while blogosphere is the collective community of all blogs.
The current blogosphere
A number of studies have been done and they showing an agreement that blogs are a global phenomenon that has hit the mainstream (Technorati 2008). Blogs are pervasive and turn to be part of people’s daily lives. Blogosphere is growing at a quickening pace as Technorati currently tracks 35.3 Million weblogs, and it continues to double about every 6 months (Sirfy 2006), as the chart below shows:
Source:Sirfy 2006
In addition, according to tracking results by Technorati, over 75,000 new weblogs are created every day, equivalents to a blog created per second (Sifry 2006).
Trends and types of blogs in Malaysia, Asia & Europe
Malaysian blogosphere has become an important place to share out their voice. There are a number of blogs types which include personal, entertainment, humour, technology, politics, marketing and education. Survey estimates by Ulicny (2008) shows that 46% of those online in Malaysia have a blog. Further, politicians blogs are quite popular which account 20% of Malaysians’ listing of blog reading interest (Microsoft 2006).
Some of the top political blogs are:
In Asia, according to research done by Microsoft’s MSN and Windows Online Service Business cited in Microsoft (2006) shows that Asia’s blogosphere is fueled by youth with almost half of all bloggers and it is treated as a means to maintain and build their social connections and to express themselves. In addition, it is found that 74% of the Asians found the blogs written by friends and family are most interested. Also referring to Gaman (2007), 28% of the Malaysian Top 50 Bloggers write about personal stuff.
In Europe, it is reported that personal diary-style blogs are far more popular which accounting 43% of the top blogs in Italy and 30% per cent in Europe (Mackenzie 2006). Also, political blogs are dominant too with the rising of rankings over Europe.
Benefits to the community
Blogs nowadays is treated as the source of information for readers. The effectiveness of the information spreading at speed is rather surprising and faster than mainstream media. It enables the readers to get the first hand and up-to-date information about issues that they are concerning such as political, social, business and advertising. They can read blogs according to their preference and classification of blogs. In addition, it is another way for the readers to keep in touch with their friends or family by reading their blogs or writing blogs to keep them informed. Besides, readers are free to leave their comments in the blogs and hence increase the communication of the world.
Referencing
Gaman 2007, 50 Most Influential Blogs in Malaysia, Sabahan.com, viewed 12th June 2009, http://www.sabahan.com/2007/02/06/50-most-influential-blogs-in-malaysia/.
Mackenzie, K 2006, European bloggers find their voice, Financial Times, viewed 11th June 2009, http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?queryText=European+bloggers+find+their+voice&y=1&aje=true&x=9&id=061010001665&ct=0.
Microsoft Digital Advertising Solution 2006, Blogging Phenomenon Sweep Asia, viewed 11th June 2009, http://promotion.hk.msn.com/pr/20061127Blogging_Phenomenon_Sweeps_Asia_TradePR.pdf.
Sifry, D 2006, State of the Blogosphere, April 2006 Part 1: On Blogosphere Growth, Sifry's Alerts, viewed 12th June 2009, http://www.sifry.com/alerts/archives/000432.html.
State of Blogosphere/2008 2008, Technorati.com, viewed 11th June 2009, http://technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere/.
Ulicny, B 2008, Modeling Malaysian Public Opinion by Mining the Malaysian Blogosphere, Vistology, Inc., Framingham, MA.
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