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Do You Consider Yourself An Attention Seeker?
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Did you know that mom bloggers are now considered "attention seekers" by those who categorize social networking users? Yes, mom bloggers are labeled "attention seekers" because we crave attention and comments from others often by posting photos and customizing our profiles (source). OK, we guess that's a pretty fair description of our online habits, but the term doesn't sit well with us.

Instead of calling us "attention seekers", maybe we should be called "master networkers" or Type-A social media users", not "attention seekers". It makes us sound so darn vain and like the only reason we blog at all is so people will see us: Look! Look! I'm a mom blogger! We don't think so.

Being a mom blogger is so much more than simply craving comments and wanting PR companies to contact us. It's about creating our own space on the Net, throwing out opinions and finding our voice in the wilderness. Attention Seekers? Nope, but nice try. What do you think?

Labels: bloggers, blogging

posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:43 AM,

6 Comments:

At September 25, 2008 11:04 AM, ermine and pearls said...: Hmmm...I never thought of myself as an attention seeker, but I can see where the idea could come from. I started blogging over 6 years ago as sort of online family scrapbook and it's kinda evolved from there.
At September 25, 2008 11:09 AM, The Mom Salon Editors said...: I think for all us there has been an evolution to the whole mom blogging thing. Those of us who have blogging for years started out wanting to connect with other moms and that's largely still true. There is just so much more to blogging these days for moms -- from making money to getting free trips. I don't know if that makes us attention seekers or if that just says we're Net savvy.

Thanks so much for leaving us a comment!
At September 25, 2008 12:38 PM, Shefaly said...: Hi. Thanks for linking my post here.

Perhaps it is worth pointing out that it is not MY research or MY categorisation as your post seems to suggest. The Ofcom is the telecoms and media industry regulator in the UK and the five categories are the outcome of their qualitative research.

The original link is in my post for those who may wish to read more about the methodology and the detailed descriptions of the categories.
At September 25, 2008 12:49 PM, The Mom Salon Editors said...: Hi Shefaly. Thanks for commenting. Yes, we know it's not your research. You mention in your post that the research is from Ofcom. I think readers can figure that out.
Not sure though if the Ofcom research specifically mentioned mom bloggers as attention seekers, though.
At September 25, 2008 1:04 PM, Shefaly said...: Please see this link. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/04/nr_20080402

At the bottom there are profiles. If you get to Attention Seekers, you will see that the description reads:

'Attention Seekers'
People who crave attention and comments from others, often by posting photos and customising their profiles
Gender: Mostly female
Age: Teens to 35+ (especially mothers)
Socio-economic group: C1C2D
Number of people: Some
Typical sites: Bebo, MySpace, ICQ

Thanks.
At September 25, 2008 1:13 PM, The Mom Salon Editors said...: So then, do you think they're talking about mothers on social networking sites or mom bloggers?

I don't think they're referencing mom bloggers at all. Instead it seems they're referencing moms who are active on social networking sites. Not bloggers.