en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:55:04 GMT 15 By Haley Feinstein ('06)/ Eastside Staff
It used to be that a diary was considered a private means of expression, a place where your deepest thoughts could be recorded. However, as the world continues to become more technologically advanced, online diaries have become available so that people can write about anything. The catch is that these pages are no longer private; anyone can easily access the latest entry. Writing in these online journals is often referred to as "web logging" or "blogging". This ever growing trend in online journals first became popular in the late '90s. Software providers such as Xanga. com, Livejournal.com, Blogger.com, Pitas.com and Groksoup.com have made it easy for anyone with access to a computer to have instant freedom of expression in the form of an online journal. This new form of expression has quickly made its way into the hearts of teenagers everywhere as more people are creating online journals daily. With all this popularity, however, one has to wonder about the irony in making something that was once so private into a widely public ordeal. Melissa Mahgerefteh ('07) knows many people who have created their own online journals, and admits to accessing their accounts herself on occasion. "I wouldn't ever create my own online journal, but I have looked at other people's, which isn't interesting unless your name is mentioned... usually the entries are just a summarization of what that person did that particular day," said Mahgerefteh ('07). The main difference between a diary and an online journal is the subject matter. While people do write about personal issues similar to offline diaries, most realize that their journals can be viewed by anyone, and therefore opt to write in a more audience-oriented manner. This can include talking about anything from weekend plans to movie reviews. The art of journal writing began with people using a pen and paper to express their feelings. Today, software providers have put their own spin on freedom of expression in the form of an online journal. As technology continues to expand, everyone waits in anticipation to see how online journals continue to evolve. ]]> Mon, 17 Jan 2005 22:18:00 GMT