Blog vs. Wiki

Blogs

We all know what a blog looks like. Even though each and every one has a different layout, theme, attitude, or topic, every blog shares the intention of creating an online form of individual self-expression or thought.  Many blogs are structurally customizable--much like a website, the way we format the aesthetic of our blogs is part of what makes it so expressive. Blogs also allow people to share posts others can comment on and then collaboratively discuss a wide range of topics and ideas. In this way, blogs allows for people who may have never connected before to find common interests or goals they can both/all work on together.

Wikis

I guarantee the first word "Wikipedia" is the first thing most of you think about when presented with this idea. Wikipedia is, by far, the most popular wiki used. Wikipedia even has a wiki on wikis. According to this wiki site, wikis are "websites that provide collaborative modifications of its content and structure directly from the web browser." They use wiki markup as their simple text language for editing content and run a wiki software, aka "wiki engine" which enable user to edit the content from their active web browser. Depending on the type of wiki, many allow different levels of access and control, some of which are open source that allow all users to see how things are made, others of which are more private and do not allow direct editing or allow viewers to see its formation process. As Wikipedia has discovered, the bigger the wiki gets, more rules must exist. In "Wikipedia: No Longer the Wild West?" we see a balanced response of anger and understanding as people realize the information on the site must become more regulated so the site's credibility and beneficial contribution to the community continue to grow. In the end, wikis are created in order to establish a common place for exchange and collaboration on ideas, tasks, organizations, as well as general need-to-know information.

New Idea for Wikis

Wikis could prove more useful if they were open to questions or feedback about topics. Blogs enable viewers to see the information and comment on it directly, whereas wikis allow only for the contributors to...contribute. There is no space for people to comment or ask questions about the content on the page in a highlighted fashion. Google docs would be another example; those with access have the option to comment on the document. The comments then show up on the right side bar so they are immediately visible to the next visitor.

Just a Theory

The way we interpret and interact with media has changed dramatically in the last 10-15 years. I am only 25 years old, and I was in high school when Facebook started. Instagram is only 6 years old, and Snapchat is only 5. Despite the infancy of these platforms, billions of people have integrate at least one of them into their daily lives. The nature of "always being on" must have some consequences (good and bad), right?