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Blog Nation Prefers Personal Writing Over Political

Blog Nation Prefers Personal Writing Over Political

WASHINGTON, D.C.
A national survey of Internet bloggers reveals that most of the blogging population concentrates on sharing its personal experiences with readers. According to the survey, only 20 percent of bloggers devote their writings to media, government, politics and technology, combined. Conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the survey reports that roughly 12 million American adults, or about 8 percent of adult Internet users, are consistent bloggers. Approximately 57 million adults, or 39 percent of the country’s adult online population, visit blog sites.

The report, simply entitled “Bloggers,” is authored by Pew Research Center senior research specialist Amanda Lenhart and associate director Susannah Fox. It says bloggers are both active consumers and creators of online content. According to the report, 44 percent of bloggers have taken material they find online, such as songs, text or images, and incorporated it into their own artistic creations.

“Blogs are as individual as the people who keep them, but this survey shows that most bloggers are primarily interested in creative, personal expression,” says Lenhart. “Blogs make it easy to document individual experiences, share practical knowledge or just keep in touch with friends and family.”

The report, based on an in-depth phone survey of self-identified bloggers, found that 76 percent used their blogs in part to record their personal experiences and share them with others. Sixty-four percent said they blog to share practical knowledge or skills. Men make up the majority of the blogging community, at 54 percent. And most bloggers, 54 percent, said they have never published their writing or media creations anywhere but on their blogs; 44 percent say they have published elsewhere.

Asked to select one key topic describing their blogs, 37 percent of the bloggers indicated “my life and experiences.” Other blog subjects had fewer devotees: 11 percent of bloggers focus on politics and government; 7 percent focus on entertainment; 6 percent on sports; 5 percent cover general news and current events; 5 percent focus on business; 4 percent tackled technology; and 2 percent cover religion, spirituality or faith.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is a Pew Research Center program. The report is available online at <www.pewinternet.org>.



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