What’s age got to do with it?
THERE was a time when every serious young girl kept a diary — and quite a few boys got in on the act too. They revelled in the joy of having a private place to put down their thoughts.
But times have changed and, if keeping a diary is old hat, the very notion of privacy seems archaic. The advent of social networking means most youngsters reveal their musings to all and sundry on a daily (if not hourly) basis.
However, some teens are using the internet to create an online presence for themselves. Many will blog for fun, while others hope that one day their particular slant will land them a better future.
Amy Hull is 16 years old and has two younger siblings. At the beginning of the summer, she created a blog about baking and, though she is still relatively new to the game, has built up a respectable following and an impressive portfolio of recipes and reviews.
“My blog was born of a love of baking and I just wanted somewhere where I could express my creativity and share my photography, as well as take my mind off school work,” she says.
“I created my first blog in June after spending hours flicking through gorgeous sites full of mouth-watering bakes. I knew what I loved in a blog, how certain photographs made me gasp and what I would change in others, so I set about making my own perfect blog.”
With a blog entitled Snazzy Biscuits, the budding pastry chef creates something new a couple of times a week then posts her photos and critique online.
“Snazzy Biscuits is full of simple yet gorgeous bakes which I share in the hope that they will put a smile on your face, make your tummy rumble and inspire people to try it themselves,” says the Antrim teenager.
“Some bloggers post once a day, but as we food bloggers have to make something, then carefully present and photograph it, I have found that once or twice a week suits me, maybe more if there have been some birthdays or celebrations in my house, but I try not to feel pressured into posting too often.
“I am still relatively new and have a humble following of 84 after a few months on the scene. And looking further ahead, I hope to go to university to study law with French, then eventually move to Paris, perfect my French and my macaroon-making skills and open my own little bakery.”
For 12-year-old James Madigan, his new blog aims to make people more aware of the environment by writing about the wildlife in his garden, which he calls Keiko.
“Keiko is my back field and it is not disturbed by people, so it is like a nature reserve,” says the Clare boy. “I got the name from a movie called Free Willy about a whale called Keiko. I was only three when I saw it and it made me love nature.
“I set up my blog a month ago, because I wanted to give nature a bit of notice — we humans are taking it for granted.
“I write my blog every few days and I hope that eventually it will help me in my plan to be a naturalist travelling the world.”
Laura McDermott
from Meath started a fashion blog called Just Lolo when she was aged 16. Three years later, she is studying English at Trinity College, has spent the last three summers interning for Irish Tatler and is president of the Trinity Fashion Society.
“I set up Just Lolo in 2009 after chatting to John Walford [founder of Vauxhall Fashion Scout] at The Ultimate Girls Day Out. He recommended that I set up a blog after I told him about my love of fashion and journalism. “So I went home and created my blog to attain more experience writing in a public sphere and also to further my knowledge of fashion.”
She would tell potential bloggers to stop worrying about what others think.
“Don’t over-think it — just get up and get started,” she says. “People often worry about setting up blogs, because they fear public criticism, but you can be as open or as anonymous as you want. I’m pretty private when it comes to Just Lolo and never post pictures or videos of myself. I just let my personality out through my writing.
“The more time you put into your blog, the more successful it will be. Your blog will maintain its success if you continue to post frequently and if you stay engaged with your writing.”
Garry Lowe of Whizz Kids IT training says creating an online presence and an affinity with computers is important for youngsters.
“The internet is here to stay and it is important that young people learn how best to utilise this powerful communications tool,” he says.
“Blogging is a fantastic tool for connecting with people of a like mind and communicating with an audience.
“It’s worth pointing out that Twitter is a great place to start blogging. It is a micro-blogging platform, where you tweet short thoughts, as opposed to full articles.”
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