I'm not quite sure how to respond to the question posed by Jatan and revisited by Manu and Jamie.

My online experience began at the start of the century, mainly with forum boards. A prelude to social networks, but where civility and asynchrony still allowed for civil and passionate discussions.

And it was during those years, especially abroad and then in Italy, that the golden era of blogs and bloggers took place. The proto-influencers of the time. I myself was on the radar of social and digital PR agencies for a few years, receiving invitations to this or that event.

So I really couldn't say what I would have done if I had started my Internet experience a decade later, let's say. Thinking about it, I would say that I would have still looked at blogs as a tool for personal expression where I could tell my story through longform, without the limiting boundaries of platforms and like-grabbing posts.

Yes, because, and here I quote Jamie, the clear difference between the two things lies right here:

Social media is a lot like living in an apartment. There is a landlord who can decide to allow you to rent or not. There are rules and limitations. You cannot just paint the walls whenever you want and you certainly cannot just remodel the kitchen. You also have to modify your behavior. You cannot play your stereo super loud in the middle of the night. Consider that for a moment and it sounds like most social media platforms. You get an apartment — your profile. You can post as long as the landlord is okay with what you say. You cannot change the way your writing is displayed — no remodeling here. And as long as the landlord keeps the building up your words will be there. But you don't own anything, and when they decide to sell the building you will go with it.

Having a blog is like having a single family home. Want to remodel? Okay. Want to play your stereo? Okay, within the noise ordinances. Want to change the way the living room is laid out? Fine, none of our business. This is why I have a blog. I want to have my own space, and do my own things, and not be under a landlord. That also means I have to mow my grass, tend to the rain gutters, and manage the upkeep. And just like houses some take more of that than others.

The real problem with this question lies in the demographic nature to which it is posed. The vast majority of people under 30 today would respond that they don't need a blog to express themselves. This is because social networks have watered down our online experience to the point where we expect feedback on any content we decide to post online: likes, reposts, or comments are the currency of exchange to which they are accustoming us.

Necessarily derailing the conversation to an aspect that I have addressed several times on this blog. Are people still themselves online nowadays? Or do they only show their best side in order to receive that satisfying fulfillment from engagement?

I still see few people being true, sincere, opening up without filters, even though they are aware of what they will face.

Starting a blog to be yourself. This should be the mantra. This should be obvious to everyone, without fearing judgments, without being slaves to the mechanics of some multinational company that in return only wants to sell our data for profit.

Starting a blog may seem difficult, but it's not at all, it's an act of love that you owe to yourself.

Free yourselves.