The future of Blogspot (Blogger) is uncertain, and it’s hard to say whether Google will continue to support it indefinitely or eventually discontinue it like they did with Google+. However, there are a few key points to consider when trying to predict its future:
1. Lack of Major Updates
One sign that Google might not prioritize Blogger is the lack of significant updates in recent years. While the platform still functions and remains available, Google hasn’t introduced many new features, and the user interface feels outdated compared to modern alternatives like WordPress or Medium. However, Google does tend to keep some of its older services alive for a long time without constant feature updates, which could indicate that Blogger might not be shut down immediately.
2. Stable, Low-Maintenance Service
Blogger is a relatively low-maintenance platform. It continues to work as expected with minimal intervention, which may explain why Google hasn’t discontinued it yet. Google often has a tendency to keep legacy services running without much investment, especially if the service isn’t hurting the company financially. This is likely why platforms like Blogger or Google Groups are still available, despite not being at the forefront of Google’s innovation.
3. The Blogger User Base
While Blogger is no longer the leading platform for new bloggers, it still has a significant user base. Many people, especially long-time users, continue to use Blogger for personal or small-scale blogging. Google may choose to continue supporting it as a stable, free service for this specific group of users, even though it no longer represents a strategic priority for the company.
4. Google’s Track Record with Discontinuing Services
Google has a history of discontinuing services that no longer fit into their long-term vision or that fail to generate revenue or significant engagement. Google+ is a prominent example, as it was discontinued after failing to gain the level of user engagement Google hoped for. Similarly, other Google services like Google Reader and Picasa were shut down when they no longer aligned with Google’s broader goals. If Blogger were to experience a decline in usage or strategic importance, it could be discontinued in a similar fashion.
5. The Platform’s Niche Role
Blogger serves a niche group of casual bloggers who don’t need the advanced features of other platforms like WordPress or Squarespace. As long as there is a small but steady group of users who find Blogger useful, Google may choose to keep it running, even if it’s not a major focus. Blogger doesn’t require significant resources to maintain, so it’s unlikely to be a drain on Google’s budget.
6. Monetary and Strategic Considerations
Google has long prioritized services that align with its business model, such as YouTube, Google Search, and Google Ads. Blogger doesn’t contribute significantly to Google’s revenue or business strategy compared to other products. However, as long as Blogger doesn’t incur substantial costs and serves a base of loyal users, Google may continue to maintain it without investing heavily in new features. This is similar to how Google maintains some of its other legacy products.
Conclusion: Will Blogger Be Discontinued?
While it’s impossible to predict with certainty, it’s likely that Blogger will continue to be supported as a legacy product for the foreseeable future, especially since it doesn’t require significant investment to maintain. Google may not continue to develop it with new features or improvements, but they’re unlikely to shut it down unless it no longer serves any user base or becomes a burden.
If you’re an active Blogger user, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on any announcements from Google regarding the platform’s future. While it’s not a high priority for Google, as long as there is a demand and the platform remains cost-effective, it’s unlikely that Blogger will disappear in the near future.
If you’re concerned about the longevity of Blogger, it may be worth considering other platforms that are actively developing and updating their features. But for now, Blogger will likely remain around, at least in some form, for the long term.