People started moving to social media around 2016. I’d noticed the decline of truly worthwhile blogs to read about ten years ago. But I believe that trend is about to reverse.

Social media gives you access to a large audience, and people often expect you to have at least a Twitter account if you’re a public figure. I get that. I use Twitter and YouTube myself — and maybe, in the future, I’ll increase efforts on Instagram too.

However, the way these platforms have evolved makes having your own website more important than ever. I was banned from Medium over a year ago without a single warning, I’m fairly sure YouTube shadow-bans my channel, and German Twitter is full with state censorship for those who don’t align with the mainstream narrative.

On my website, nobody can censor me. I can write what I want and speak my mind freely on here. Some will like it, others will hate it — but no one can deplatform me here. Sure, Google might bury content it doesn’t like in the search results, but once I’ve built a loyal readership and mailing list, Google’s influence over me fades.

For authors, maintaining a blog is especially valuable because it’s a simple (and free) way for readers to discover and get into your work. I often give away books for free, but blogging is another way for potential readers to get to know me without any commitment. If you enjoy my blog, you’ll enjoy my books — guaranteed.

But I believe a website is essential for any public figure. In the near future, hosting video content will likely become very affordable. At that point, anyone could host their own vlogs, video essays, podcasts, and livestreams directly on their own site. Add a payment processor that doesn’t discriminate by political beliefs, and the bubble of mainstream media control could finally burst — giving rise to a new golden age of citizen journalism. No add AI video making and anyone could make Hollywood quality movies and post (and sell) them on their own website.

Even if you’re not an author, social commentator, vlogger, or influencer, a website is still for you. At the very least, it serves as your personal business card — a place to showcase your projects and interests. Whether you study math, play college sports, work as a plumber, invest in crypto or dividends, or love to travel — create a website and write about it. You might not become a famous influencer or make big money from it, but it will open doors.

And I’m not just talking about professional opportunities — personal ones, too. Let’s say you love riding motorbikes. With a website, you’ll quickly connect with other enthusiasts in your area. If you love reading, authors might start sending you free books or you’ll get great book recommendations by other readers. If you’re passionate about a sports team and write about them for fun, you might gain better access to games in the future.

A website simply builds credibility — in every area. And it does that far better than social media can for the average person. Sure, having a million Twitter followers is great, but what about smaller accounts like mine, with only around a thousand? Nobody cares about these accounts as they’re a dime a dozen.

A website with just 1,000 monthly readers, on the other hand, is something real — a meaningful platform that connects you with potential friends, collaborators, and opportunities.