Publish what you think
Blogging changed everything. In 1999, Blogger made it possible for anyone with a web browser to publish their thoughts to the world. No HTML required, no FTP needed — just type and click publish. What began as a simple tool for sharing links and commentary grew into a platform that democratized publishing and gave rise to the blogosphere.
Before social media, before Twitter and Facebook, there were blogs. Personal websites where people wrote about their lives, their passions, their expertise. The web was a quieter place then — but it was also more personal. Every blog was a window into someone's world, a place where thoughtful writing still mattered more than viral engagement.
The term "weblog" was coined in 1997 by Jorn Barger. By 1999, it was shortened to "blog" by Peter Merholz. That same year, Evan Williams and Meg Hourihan launched Blogger — a free, web-based publishing tool that made blogging accessible to everyone. The blogosphere was born, and the web would never be the same.