Prediction: No One Will Care About Your Blog

Speaking to about 50 aspiring church planters at Liberty last weekend, I started talking about the merits of blogging. Seeing blank looks on their faces, I asked them, "Do any of you blog?" Nothing. "Do any of you read blogs?" Only one hand went into the air.

We're moving away from "reply-for-reply" communication toward an "instant age." This generation would rather IM, iChat, text or Facebook - all of which require instantaneous communication - than e-mail. Many don't even use their accounts.

These forms of web 2.0 are "social neutralizers," where everyone's on the same social footing. Friends and followers are the reward for the accessible. "I'll get back to you," has haughtiness written all over it. "You can't get in touch with me, but you can read my blog" is even worse.

I love blogging, but it has all the features this next generation loves to hate.

Comments

[Travis Thompson]

Ben - I think they relate well to blogs. It gives them the ability to have a conversation on their own terms, which is, I think, what you're saying.

If I write a post, they can drift in and out of the conversation at their leisure - it's not unlike writing something on their wall (on Facebook).

That said, I think it depends on the nature of the blog to determine it's relevance with Generation Y. So much of it is about the conversation.

[Jason Roberts]

Does that mean I don't have to feel bad about not wanting to blog?

[Jon]

I'd be interested to know if that's a "that group" thing or an overall thing. Aspiring church planters are a pretty unique, often driven bunch. (So, I'd bet there's also a whole other group that mainly relates online. But they're not the church planting type.)

I think college students (or, even, grad students in a college environment) are less likely to follow blogs in college (why follow someone's blog? They live down the hall!). But post college, they're likely to follow some of their friends' writings as a way to keep in touch. It could be a blog or notes on facebook, but I think it grows as distance between friends grows.

Now, that's still not the pastor's blog. It's mainly about relationships. The pastor may be able to sneak in there :).

[Jon]

Ok, now you've got me thinking, and only slightly related, here are the three main groups I think read blogs.

1. Techies
2. Housewives (or househusbands)
3. Pastors

two main reasons:

1. available time in front of a computer
2. access to a community of people who are like them that would be more difficult to find in 'real life.'

So pastors can connect with other pastors, etc.

Other than that, people may follow the lives of a few friends.

I'll stop now :)

[jenn schreck]

i am single. i am a full time career gal. and i read your blogs on a very regular basis. i also read ainsley's, and my sisters and my friends... and i write a ton of them too...
i love blogging. it makes me happy.

that is all. :)

[Terrace Crawford]

Ben, I hope you quickly challenged them to start reading blogs! Even though they might not be familiar to the blogosphere, if they are really 'aspiring church planters' they should be SOAKING up all the goodness from the tens of church planters that spill their guts online daily. I read a number of them, including yours.

I can understand why people don't connect to the rest of the world through blogs but I think they are remiss in not doing so. I personally use facebook for general convos or touches whereas I see blogging as the land of opportunity to learn, be stretched and network with leaders -- who you might otherwise not be able to interact with through other mediums.

[Terry B]

Based on my limited experience, the university students here seem to see blogging as a way to write their personal diary.
A friend from the campus church said something like, "Why would I want to read what someone's doing everyday through their blog?"

As for myself, a home-educator, I'm able to learn and connect with people I'd never be able to otherwise.

My family definitely reaps the benefits of my reading of great blogs!

[Dave Kruse]

From Despair.com:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/demotivators_1990_1443263

[Ben Arment]

haaa. I need that shirt. =)