Is blogging dead? (ha ha) Is vlogging the new thing now?

No blogging isn’t dead and vlogging must be the “new thing” because even Microsoft Word still has it underlined in red, so it’s not even an established / common word yet. Vlogging is essentially video blogging and is quite prominent in various platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo and even blogs (woah meta).

This media form and convergence has attracted a young demographic for both viewing and creating. According to a 2015 GlobalWebIndex study, 42% of internet users have watched a vlog within the previous month with 16-24 year-olds and 25-34 year-olds being the prominent demographic by 50%. Out of all the platforms, YouTube gathers about 93% of the vlogging views.

We are inundated with vlogs that are made for marketing and entertainment purposes. According to a Variety survey in 2014, 1,500 13-17 year olds in the US claimed that YouTube stars Smosh, The Fine Bros, PewDiePie, KSI and Ryan Higa were more influential for this age group than any traditional film, music or TV stars. An influence that has shifted what we perceive as the “traditional” celebrities. As opposed to a blog, a vlog can be more intimate and personal through a face to camera scenario. Vlogs haven’t been around for too long, but there has been an expansion on the content and the vlogger that likewise, the audience demographic is increasing as well.

So did the video kill the blogging star? No, not at all. It’s only provided the blogging star a new way of to expand their own blog (as I write this on my blog).