Blogging versus Social Networking

The ongoing public debate regarding whether or not blogging is simply another form of social media or social networking seems to miss the point. What makes blogging, social media, and social networking important and valuable is the originality of the content exchanged. Original creations add value to social interactions, whether the works be items of news and intrigue, or simply candid snapshots of family and friends. The viewing public craves original content in all its forms, and the degree of originality embodied by a work is what translates specific content into value. Brian Clark of CopyBlogger draws the distinction between original and non-original works in terms of the money earned by the works' creators:

When you think like a media producer in this brave new social media world, it’s your content that social networkers are sharing and promoting, and that translates into your cash. If you’re only social networking, you’re only someone’s user-generated content, and even your digital overlord struggles to make money.

Social networking in itself only consumes people (as in gossip), but the introduction of high quality original content into a social exchange transforms the transaction into high value for both the sender and receiver, regardless of the media platform over which the information is sent.

Source: CopyBlogger