Tumblr is, in fact, an augmented reality. People may not know it but they treat it as such.
Without making too broad a generalization, it has become clear that most people use tumblr to get away from the flaws and faults in reality. They surround themselves with things they enjoy and submerge themselves into discussion that often never leaves the bloggersphere/ tumblrverse. They're trying to live a better life. How else could they make friends half-way across the world? How else could they give their voice anonymously in order to provide help or ask for it? Users have the opportunity to gain fame through graphic design, or through roleplaying, or through fanfiction. They have the choice to personalize the way their blog looks, and they can decide what exactly goes on the blog and the dashboard. This they cannot do in real life; they cannot always be around people who understand them or their interests; they may not have the means to gain fame; they cannot completely alter the way they appear or what they see. Tumblr means freedom.
But this freedom seems to be limited to those between the ages of 14 and 25. Where do those younger and older find their freedom? Do the middle-aged have an augmented reality for this? Or, since augmented realities in the form of technology are recent, will it become generational and there will be different ARs for different generations?
At the end of the day, one fact cannot be avoided: blogs are more powerful than you think.
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