A Brief History of Blogging
I put this together as a handout for tonight’s writers’ group. We’ll be talking about someone’s blog/website and it got me thinking …
The History of Blogging
Trivia Question: Where did the word “blog” come from? (Answer is below.)
Blogging had its beginnings in the early 1990s. The term “weblog” was coined by Jorn Barger in December 1997, and was later shortened to “blog” by Peter Merholz in 1999. Prior to that blogging can be traced back to the early online diaries and personal pages that began to appear with the advent of the World Wide Web. Early blogs were simple websites where individuals could post updates about their daily lives, thoughts, and interests, serving as a digital extension of personal journaling.
My favorite early blogs:
Pam’s House Blend (Pam Spaulding)
America Blog (John Aravosis)
JoeMyGod (still going after 20-ish years)
I even had my own! MadeMark (where my brand name/imprint came from: MadeMark Publishing).
Remember Blogspot? Wow!
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, blogging platforms like LiveJournal and Blogger emerged, making it easier for people to create and maintain their own blogs. These platforms provided user-friendly interfaces that required no advanced technical knowledge. Anyone could start a blog and thousands of people did. The accessibility and ease of these blogging platforms played a vital role in fostering a sense of community among bloggers, who often linked to each other’s blogs and engaged in lively discussions. (Called a “Blogroll” they invited readers to check out other blogs—although I don’t think mine was ever among them.)
With the rise of social media in the mid-2000s, the landscape of blogging began to change. Platforms like MySpace and Facebook introduced new ways for individuals to share their thoughts and experiences with a wider audience. Twitter ushered in the era of micro-blogging, allowing what people initially considered the democratization of social media, while others (like me) considered the beginning of the end of shared facts and truths.
Despite the changes, standalone blogs continued to thrive, and many bloggers began to specialize in specific niches such as fashion, technology, travel, and food. This specialization led to the emergence of professional bloggers who monetized their content through advertisements (Google Adsense, for instance), sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. Blogging had transitioned from a hobbyist activity to a viable career path for many. This has had benefits as well as dire societal consequences—in my humble opinion.
The influence of blogs became particularly evident in the realm of news and journalism. Blogs started challenging traditional media outlets by providing alternative perspectives and breaking news stories. Political blogs, in particular, gained prominence during this period. Bloggers like Arianna Huffington and Andrew Sullivan demonstrated that blogs could wield significant influence, leading to the establishment of prominent news and media platforms. The rise of citizen journalism, facilitated by blogging, brought about a more participatory and democratized media landscape.
In recent years, the advent of multimedia blogging and vlogging (video blogging) has expanded the definition and scope of blogging. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok have enabled content creators to share their stories and expertise through visual and interactive media. Despite the proliferation of social media, traditional blogs remain a fundamental part of the digital ecosystem, offering a space for in-depth analysis and personal expression.
On a personal note: I’ve been blogging, as it were for about 20 years myself, in one iteration or another. My websites, MarkMcNease.com and YourWritePath.com are essentially blogs. I’ve been happy to see the advent of Substack, where I blog every Monday (Mark McNease On Topic). It’s brought back long-form blogging (as opposed to micro-blogging) and I have a lot of fun doing it. There are a lot of good Substacks out there, from Kareem Abdul-Jabar to Heather Cox Richardson, to authors and artists and contemporary thinkers. I highly recommend checking out Substack.
The downside to all this is that truth has been distorted beyond anything that could be called shared. Bloggers and podcasters now create their own truths, to suit their own audiences, and it has had a severely corrosive effect—in my observation! But I still value it, I enjoy it, and I don’t trust most of it that involves politics. I will always be a “source” guy (I worked at Reuters News for 11 years, among some of the best journalists in the world): show me where the information comes from, then I’ll consider believing you.
And now, Blog on!