Blogging turns into a trend

Today, blogging becomes a trend around the world. According to Technorati (2008), there are 133 million blog records indicated by them since year 2002. In year 2008, there is 7.4 million blogs posted in last 120 days, 1.5 million blogs posted in last 7 days and 900,000 posts in 24 hours (Technorati 2008).

In Europe
Blogs are getting significant in the field of politic in Europe. President and chief executive in Edelman Europe, David Brain, stated that many top blogs in Europe are political based. Furthermore, blogs on personal diary-style and food are common in Europe as well. Personal diary-style blogs achieve 30 per cent of the top blogs while blogs on food reach 19 of the top 100 blogs (Mackenzie, K 2006).

In Asia
Asia’s blogosphere is mostly participating by youngsters, with 35% under age of 25 to 34, while only 9% are over 35 years old. The common blog in Asia is the personal diary-style blogs, while blogs on political and sports are less popular (Windows Live Highlights 2006). (46)

In Malaysia
Majority of bloggers (74%) in Malaysia are below 25 years old, while another 21% aged from 25 to 34 (Microsoft Press Pass 2009). According to Gaman (2007), 28% of the Malaysian Top 50 bloggers share their personal life, 16% write about politics while another 16% write about technology in their blogs. Among these blogs, kennysia.com blog is the most popular personal blog in Malaysia (Gaman 2007).

Benefits of Blogs to the Community
Blog can serve as a political communication tool to the community. For instance, in year 2006, Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Malaysia stimulated political development and promoted blogging as a new sphere for political education (Friedrich Naumann Foundation 2006).

References:
1. Friedrich Naumann Foundation Malaysia 2006, Blogging as a Political Communication Tool, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.fnfmalaysia.org/news/new/blogging_political_communication_tool.html

2. Gaman 2007, 50 Most Influential Blogs in Malaysia, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.sabahan.com/2007/02/06/50-most-influential-blogs-in-malaysia/

3. Mackenzie, K 2006, European bloggers find their voice, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/87706c4e-57be-11db-be9f-0000779e2340.html?nclick_check=1

4. Microsoft Press Pass 2009, Women Rule in Malaysian Blogosphere, viewed 12 June 2009, http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/press/archive2006/linkpage4337.mspx

5. Technorati 2008, State of Blogosphere/2008, viewed 12 June 2009, http://technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere

6. Windows Live Highlights 2006, Blogging Phenomenon Sweeps Asia, viewed 12 June 2009, http://promotion.hk.msn.com/pr/20061127Blogging_Phenomenon_Sweeps_Asia_TradePR.pdf