Blogging — a hobby or a profession? Students’ attitudes

The article considers current issues of blogging as a new phenomenon in the field of digital communication and social and labor activity. The attitude towards blogging among representatives of different generations is ambiguous, and the associations with this concept are highly variable and have not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of the study is to identify differences in students’ opinions about blogging depending on their age group, their belonging to generation Z or Y. The key research question is whether blogging is perceived primarily as a profession or a hobby. The object of the study is student youth of generations Z (Zoomers) and Y (Millennials). The empirical base was the data from a survey of bachelor students (N = 539 people). The results obtained showed differences in ideas about blogging depending on age. Thus, 51.4% of the representatives of Generation Z consider blogging as a profession, while 28.6% consider it a hobby. Representatives of Generation Y have opposite opinions: 20.1% consider blogging a profession, and 47.9% — a hobby. The main attractive aspects of blogging as a profession were identified: the opportunity to do what you love, self-realization, remote work and flexible hours. Generations Z and Y agree that the working conditions of a blogger facilitate achieving a balance between work and personal life. The main disadvantages of professional blogging are related to uncertainty of self-employment conditions: labor and financial instability, as well as overemployment. It was found that generational differences in the perception of blogging as a profession do not affect the motivation to choose it: 25% of the representatives of Generation Z and 22% of Generation Y would like to become bloggers. The results of the study are of theoretical importance for specialists involved in new forms of employment. In practical terms, development of the legal status of blogging and elaboration of educational and professional standards for this activity seem promising.