Blogs as an Influencing Factor

A blog is said to be the perfect platform for a person who seeks to establish himself/herself as a thought leader.  By putting their thoughts and feeling on the Internet as they narrate the daily events in their lives, they are given the uncommon opportunity to initiate a totally unique line of thinking on a particular subject.  This thinking process could spark a lively discussion that would hopefully produce something positive.

It is a wonder why blog authors choose to reveal their real names along with other personal information when the virtual world offers much flexibility in terms of identity.  While some applications require names to allow utilization, blogs do not.  Blogs can always be constructed in a manner that would leave the author completely unidentified while users can always post anonymously.

Name, age and location can be strongly associated with a person’s identity, whether it be online or offline.  The essence of a personal journal seems to have encouraged authors to reveal exactly who they are.  A certain sense of empowerment exists in revealing thoughts and feelings without hiding behind a mask or a pseudo name.  Some authors though have chosen the path of anonymity, especially for those that have blog contents that are quite personal, candid or intimate.  However, it cannot be denied that any form of personal information reflects how blog authors want to present themselves to others and how it ultimately affects how readers would see the site for long term use.