The need to be heard

Growing blogosphere

From food and lifestyle to photography, technology and travel, youngsters are now using blogs to word their passions and opinions. Whether they are well-known blogs like ‘Thought Catalog’ and ‘TMZ’, simpler ones like ‘Bubble Ink’ and ‘The Book Wars’, or those in local languages, every blog is an international launchpad for a blogger’s voice to be heard. The ability to transcend geographical and cultural barriers with the click of a button makes it an effective channel for youngsters to explore the outside world.

Bloggers say that deciding to create a blog is a spontaneous act and not something that is usually planned out. Anjali Tapadiya, a student of Mount Carmel College, says, “I initially did not have a clear reason for blogging. But as more people started reading what I wrote, I felt like I needed to take it a step further and showcase my skills as a writer on a bigger platform.”

 Rhea Karuturi, a student of Mallya Aditi International School, made her debut in the world of blogging with ‘The Million Page Project’, by cataloging a pet project she started in the sixth grade, where she reads a million pages. “Within weeks I expanded it to include my writing and several other things related to literature. I write about a lot of different topics that I stumble across in books.”

Though the topics to blog about are vast, what ties them together is that they are current and relevant topics that people want to talk about and connect to a diverse set of ideals and beliefs, to interpret things differently.

Shaun D’souza, a blogger from Jain University, writes about underrated TV shows, among other things on his blog, ‘The Kanindian Joint’, with his best friend from Canada. “Other than reviews, I blog about some of the most interesting things I find through research, and there are some posts about humorous conversations that I’ve had with my best friend too,” he says.

The ease of creating a blog and the several platforms available for it is pulling people away from communicating with traditional media like pen and paper. With technological advancements, people succumb to computer screens and keyboards to make their blogging lives easier and more efficient. Blog followers play a major role in spreading a blogger’s idea around. Shaun adds, “Both my friend and I hope to be popular writers one day, and thought this would be a fun exercise.”

Other than improving writing skills and developing a discipline, the most popular reason to blog is to get a chance to be heard. There are political blogs, social blogs and issue-based ones that have the power to trigger a mass movement, if done the right way. “Reading and writing are as much a part of my life as breathing, and I just wanted to share that passion with people,” says Rhea.