I find myself right now in the middle of an interesting discussion on Twitter regarding the state of the 20-Something blogging community, particularly the community as it is defined by members of the 20 Something Bloggers social network (Are you 20-something? Do ya blog? Join! And friend me!).
I feel that the community managers and admin have been doing a tremendous job in recent months, organizing the first-ever meetup (that I was excited to attend – until Micaela’s stag and doe was scheduled on the same weekend), the blog swaps, blog carnival, etc. The community recently reached a milestone of over 7000 members.
It’s easy to feel lost in a crowd of 7000.
I feel lost at times. Kyla feels left out. I’ve heard people compare the community to high school, with cliques being formed. It’s a natural process to find those that you like and feel a connection to. When a small group has formed that seems to converse only with themselves, it can be intimidating. I gravitated away from the 20-something community some time ago because I wanted to connect with my local blogging and social media community – now that I have made invaluable connections, I feel like I’m missing out on my 20-something friends!
I know the community managers of 20SB are working on this – I’ve shared a suggestion or two via Twitter to help. There are ideas being thrown around left, right and center (I love Twitter! #20sb ). I feel that those who speak up and make themselves heard are positioned to get the most out of 20SB – which sadly is exactly why I’m getting nothing out of it right now. But the times, they are a-changin’.
What’s your take? Do you ever feel left out? Do you have any suggestions on how a large online community can thrive?
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I was unaware such a group existed. Mind you, I didn’t know there was a problem finding 20-something bloggers to begin with. At this point, should I likely just stay away?
Pat´s last blog ..iTunes 8.2.1 Reportedly Breaks Palm Pre Syncing
There’s not a problem finding bloggers. The issue is with some of the community (meaning the community at http://www.20sb.net ) feeling ‘left out’ of other community activities. Join, there’s a lot of good discussions that go on. I’ll vouch for you
lol “Kyla feels left out” Oh dear, it’s odd to see that here!
I think that 20SB is interesting- it’s useful in helping us find other 20something bloggers, which to me means the forums and community events are its heart, but sometimes when it’s hard to find blog swap etc. information, or when there is so much emphasis on offline events when it’s the online that brings us together it can be hard to feel in the know.
I think that consolidating the community (blog swap, carnival etc.) information will really help, and I think that at the same time some of it’s in the tendencies of bloggers themselves to feel like we’re separate from things instead of at the heart of them. Maybe that’s part of why we write?
Kyla Roma´s last blog ..Always, Sometimes, Never
Thanks for this post. It’s wonderful. I really, really care about making 20SB the best place for digital twenty-somethings to be, meet great people, and get ideas, blogs, projects, jobs, off the ground.
You’re suggestions today were really awesome.
DShan´s last blog ..Digitally Savvy Stand Outs
interesting! i think you get as much out of it as you put into it.. i am not as active as i used to be so of course i don’t get much out of it
floreta´s last blog ..3 Word Wednesday: Drip, Hypnotic, Sulk
Kyla, I didn’t mean to single you out but I read your post today and I understood exactly what you meant. I agree that it can feel as though the offline events are emphasized. As a fellow Canadian I know that participating in these events can be difficult and expensive!
DShan, I was glad to participate in the discussion. Sometimes it’s a matter of right place, right time – I’m happy I was there!
floreta, you are absolutely right. I don’t get as much out of it now as I used to either unfortunately. Life took over (for me, marriage!). I hope to change that. My participation, I mean
I really like the 20SB community, but also feel kind of left out. In the beginning I was all about commenting on the forum, participating in the blog swaps, finding new blogs to read…but then it got too much. There are a ton of members now, which is great, but it’s hard to connect, you know? Plus, i’ve heard this many times, it’s very divided. There are cliques which is hilarious. But, like I said, it’s still a fabulous resource for those looking to start out in the blogging world, or create friends of their own.
So, I’ve decided to continue using 20SB as a way to find new blogs to read, but that’s it. I think that might be one way to improve it – spotlight blogs/bloggers more often. They have the blogger of the month, but it’s always someone who’s already incredibly popular in the community. Why not focus on some of the not as well known members? Maybe highlight a random post every now and then?
I suppose it’s only natural with so many people to just feel lost.
Lauren´s last blog ..Book Review: I’m So Happy For You
I agree with the feeling left out. But part of that might be my fault, I’m hit or miss around the 20SB part of town. I did the forum thing for a while, but I’m more interested in commenting on each others blogs and having a discussion that way. That’s why we’re there, right, because we’re bloggers?
Ronnica´s last blog ..Venting
I’ve had a lot of talks with people about this lately and I feel sort of silly saying that I feel out of the loop- I’ve been REALLY lucky that I’ve been nominated and won 20sb awards and was a featured blogger but even I sort of feel out of the loop. Though, if I really think about it, it’s not so much that I feel out of the 20sb website loop (that sounds so weird), it’s just.. I think a lot of the great people I read who are able to meet up and hang out just happen to be a part of 20sb, which is sort of different.
Like Kyla, I can’t make it to all the blog meet ups but still want to feel a part of the community. I’ve noticed that a lot of the people who are feeling left out are people who were around when 20sb first started, people who were there before it hit 500 members or 1000 even. So I think it’s natural that people are going to feel a little… lost at how big it’s getting. I think really thinking about what you are using the website for (making friends, finding blogs, own blog exposure) is the first step possibly in figuring out to make 20sb feel more like home. Now I’m starting to ramble (and sound like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz), so I’m going to quit typing. I just wanted to say that people are definitely not alone in feeling like they are sort of lost when it comes to the community right now.
brandy´s last blog ..Accio popcorn
I completely understand the feeling left out bit. I love the 20sb community, but it can be hard to keep up with sometimes. The forums get overwhelming, and I feel like I don’t always have the time to really contribute to a conversation. Still, it’s been a great place to meet people and find new blogs.
Don’t feel too left out about living in Canada. I live right outside of Chicago, where awesome blogger events happen all the time, and I still feel left out at times. I rarely have time to make it to the events, but always wish I could.
Erin´s last blog ..The Cost of Harry Potter
Actually, I tried to join and never heard anything. So I guess I feel left out. But not really.
I’m not sure what the requirements are for entry aside from being twenty-something…
shine´s last blog ..It’s time for a break.
I have to agree with this. I am a 20SB member and there are definite cliques. There are people who have met up in real life, people who are more “popular” amongst the admins. But i think that’s the way everything is in life.
I still go on 20SB though, not because I want to be popular or be in the clique of people-who-have-met-in-real-life but I still find people I can connect with.
Tellie´s last blog ..A Virgin?
I do feel left out a lot. I don’t live in chicago, I dont have a whole lot of money at the moment to travel to all these fabulous meet ups. I am ok with that though. I’ve met some great people through blogging (some 20 somethings, some not). That said, I devote a lot of time to my own blog site and developing relationships with those who comment, I dont always have time to check in over that the 20sb site.
mandy´s last blog ..Fish Out Of Water
I saw this convo going on on Twitter today after reading Kyla’s post. I don’t utilize 20SB as much as I should (rather than pulling blog fodder from the blog carnival posts). I think it’s easy for people to feel left out when there’s 7000 people in the network. I’d like to see a spotlight on new(er) interesting, less popular (so far) bloggers too. The best thing about 20SB is bringing people together online, regardless of where we live… it just sucks that we’re not independently wealthy so we can’t frolick across the globe and meet everyone in real life.
Elle Bee´s last blog ..On my Albertaversary
I do feel left out… I JUST joined and I feel like my blog might be a bit… unusual for a 20-something. I sew, and found y’all thru your mom’s blog, and blogging about sewing and more recently travelling hasn’t given me an “in” with many of the groups.
And I think not finding more of a group to click with falls to me too. I have a lot going on to spend too much time trying, I think.
And I DID add you, haha… I love y’all’s blog.
Sarah´s last blog ..Catch-up!
I guess I just wasn’t that stoked to join something if I was going to end up feeling rejected in the end.
However, I have submitted my application, which I hope goes through soon. I only have 6 years left to be part of this thing.
Pat´s last blog ..The Brand New Sketchbook
how funny
I just came back to 20sb yesterday and was feeling exactly like this. VERY lost.. hadn’t a clue how to start finding the new friends or sites to read..sure I could just click through but something about 7000+ made me feel like I was accomplishing a whole lot of nothing. But I try
so far I’m trying to scope groups and the forums but even those feel random to me since their so big
well..at least it isn’t just me
the suggestions I saw on twitter so far though sound awesome- def. looking forward to reading some unknown blogs and stuff
*shrugs* my 2 cents
JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You.´s last blog ..Infidelity: When Someone You Love Cheats On You
It was really great bouncing around ideas with you, Erica!
I think that we really have the potential to be a great community. We already are, we just need to focus more so people aren’t getting lost in the shuffle. Make that effort so people don’t feel left out or excluded. I think we all feel that way occasionally, even myself.
Jamie´s last blog ..the one where I outgeek myself
When I was really involved in the community there certainly times when I felt left out, but life got busy and had to back off on my time on the site. Sadly, I’ve found it a little hard to get as deeply involved as I used to be.
Dutchess of Kickball´s last blog ..A New Day
I didn’t even know this community existed! It’s funny, because I have been hosting swaps and meetups just from my blog, not through this blog community network – but now that I know that they have one on here, there’s less work for me to do!
Dionne C´s last blog ..Fifteen Cupcakes