Has Blogging Become Passé?

I was wondering to myself, just the other day, whether blogging had become passé. I don't really believe it has. I think it is no longer a trendy fad, and that those who wish to blog are out there blogging and maintaining a presence on the web. I think it has become an accepted part of life, at least in western countries.

I think those who blog typically have something to say and once they find a place they are comfortable navigating, they write. This doesn't guarantee an audience, but it is an outlet. I think one of the biggest changes in the blogging experience since its inception in the late 90s to early 2000s, when most people first heard of "web logs," is that people are less inclined to wonder why anyone would want to read about some unknown person's daily life experiences. People will often come and read if someone writes. It's just a matter of the right people with the right interests stumbling upon the right blog. Of course, one has to write consistently to keep them coming back.

Another big change since blogs have been mainstreamed is the tendency for people (people from the past, potential employers, current employers, law enforcement, the media, etc) to start looking you up on the web if it suits their purposes. Facebook tends to be the site of choice for getting a feel for who people really are beyond the pixels, but it started with blogs. So is blogging passé? Not yet. It still serves a purpose and gives people an outlet for creative expression.