Blogging's Shift or Shrink
The decline in "start a blog" searches isn't an end but a shift. Content creation now thrives across diverse online platforms.
Search queries for the phrase "start a blog" and "make a blog" have declined significantly since 2011, but is this apparent decline in interest a shrink or a shift?
According to Google Trends data, US search interest for "start a blog" hit an index peak of 100 in January 2011, but by May 2025, it had fallen to roughly 12 —or slightly more than ten percent of its peak value.
Why the Drop?
The Google data shows fewer folks are searching for these blog-related terms, but why?
Perhaps the most obvious answer is social media. In 2011, a blog was still often a "personal web log." But beginning in the late 2000s, many folks moved from traditional blogs to social media and other platforms.
A 2010 Pew study observed that young adults' and teens' blogging rates halved from 2006 to 2009 as they turned to Facebook and Twitter to share personal posts. In other words, the rise of social networks (and later, video platforms) diverted attention from classic blogging, reducing the number of newcomers seeking to "start a blog."
What's a Blogger?
Another consideration is terminology and methods. Around 2010, starting a blog typically meant launching a personal site (often on WordPress, Blogger, etc.).
In the 2020s, people with creative ambitions might pursue YouTube channels, podcasts, TikTok/Instagram accounts, or newsletters instead.
The decline in "start a blog" search query volume is not an indictment of writing so much as a shift in interest to other content mediums. The concept of online content creation expanded beyond blogging.
The mechanics also became easier. In 2009, you needed to set up a blog to share written content, but now, a creator can share stories instantly on social platforms without researching how to build a site.
In short, fewer people are explicitly searching "how to make a blog" because many are either using other platforms or already familiar with website basics. This shift indicates a change in behavior and platforms, not waning interest in sharing content online.
Be a Creator
The takeaway might be don't get hung up on the terminology.
The spirit of blogging —sharing your perspective, expertise, and stories with the world— is not dying. It just changed. It evolved beyond the confines of a self-hosted ".com" into a dynamic ecosystem of platforms.