Are Blogs Credible Sources?

Blogs are known as the alternative source of information because not everything is reported by the media. However, how much of it can be true? Blogs can be defined as online journals. But due to the popularity of blogs, there have been more diversified uses for it. Blogs are also used for corporate, governmental and private uses. Generally, blogs are full of personal experiences and opinion pieces depending on the administrator.

Blogs have created a controversial issue when it comes to credibility because there are millions of online users everyday who stumble across blogs. People tend to believe what they read or at least it leaves an impression unconsciously. Unlike the printed media, there are no constraints to what we publish online. Day (2005), said that the world wide web is becoming the communications platform for the 21st century – a free and anarchistic means by which any of us can have a voice unconstrained by the traditional barriers and costs of publishing. But it is our duty to watch what we put up online because it is our social responsibility.

In the article entitled “Dr M: Bloggers should always write the truth” published by the Star Online on April 19, 2007, Dr Mahathir urged bloggers to always post the truth on their blogs because their freedom to write anything could negatively affect the development of the country.

It is vital that the truth should be posted up because the information may cause a negative issue to rise. Readers should always check the blogs’ administrators or background to determine the credibility of the source. According to Shcriver (1997), reading is a social act in that it depends on a community that shares meanings; yet it is also an individual act in that it depends critically on the reader’s unique knowledge, attitudes and values. We understand texts and images better when we can relate to what we read. When we read blogs, we also bring up past experiences and knowledge for better understanding.

In my opinion, blogs are not a credible source. However, it is a good medium to express thoughts and share experiences as well as point of views. Blogs are not to be taken seriously unless we can prove that it is a credible source. Blogs are good for discussions and to gain different perspectives. We are all entitled to our own opinion but let us watch what we post up on the web and make sure that it is the truth because we do not know who we are influencing. And most importantly, do not take blogs as our only source of information because we do not know how much truth lies in there.


References:

Day, M 2005, ‘Online players come of age’, Australian, 21 Oct., p. 20.

‘Dr M: Bloggers should always write the truth’, The Star, viewed 28 October 2007,
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/19/nation/17480990&sec=nation

Schriver, KA 1997, Dynamics in document design: creating text for readers, Wiley Computer Pub, New York.