Should Blogging Be Regulated in Singapore?

If you are reading this blogpost you are probably a blogger or someone in the industry because I believe not many people from the mass audience actually bother about my blog especially when I'm not talking about sex or leaked pictures but about "work".

Anyway, no thanks to the drama between GushCloud (GC) and our TyreQueen (XX) during Xmas, many from the mass audience has raised their eyebrows on us bloggers/influencer/instagrammer/youtuber or whatever you like to call it. Many started questioning about the importance of using online influencers, the effectiveness of using online influencers like us, does it really help the business, are we really that "famous", are our reach real, are we legit and do we need more rules and regulations or even some gahment body to be watching us?

In a discussion on 938LIVE, Gushcloud co-founder Althea Lim said she hoped to work with industry partners to perhaps put together a panel and create guidelines that govern the use of advertorials on blogs that are "respected by all". Blogger Xiaxue said this "sounds good".  From Article: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/gushcloud-co-founder-and/1577196.html

So what does it means to be talking about having "guidelines" that govern the use of advertorials on blogs? Who should be experienced enough to say what is wrong or what? What are some of the consequences we are looking at?

Are we looking at having a sort of Justice League or The Avengers? Or are we looking at a "king"? I am going to be creative and think of some questions here. Please do not take me seriously like these are going to happen. (ok, fine, nobody ever takes me seriously)

1. Who should fall under these rules?

Bloggers that take in advertorial work. Meaning to say "commercial bloggers". In order to clearly state that such rules are governing certain specific group of people, does that means that in order to be a "commercial blogger" one has to be registered? So instead of ACRA registration for businesses, all bloggers need to have a registered license? Just like how a tour guide need to get a license to guide as well as taxi driver to get a license to ferry people?

2. License 

With this license in place, are we looking at a simple license application or are we looking at a test? Should there be a school in order for a test like tour guides and taxi drivers? If it is just a simple application, that means everyone can apply for it as well? What makes one approved? Your blog stats? Your content type? Or simply base on approval of this new department? Is it going to be a yearly renewal license or life time? What if you are a blogger but not registered but being approach by a brand or client?

3. Taxes

With proper licensing, are we going to submit a report or tax report to show your earnings each year as a free lance blogger be it with product or monetarily? MONEY!

4. Other Platforms 

So with such rules and regulation for blogs, are we going to have regulation for other platforms as well? Base on the similarities in function, are we going to regulate Twitter? Instagram and even Facebook? With all these regulation, are we human or are we dancer  North Koreans robots?

5. Fines 

Image from http://visualoop.com/

With such rules and regulations, can I safely say that there WILL be a fine for people who fails to follow regulations? I am sure this is putting us onto the world map once again.

6. Who?

So when we talked about "industry partners" and forming a panel, who would be senior enough? No disrespect but NN and GC might be our market leader (some sort) but they are kinda like start up too. So are we looking at bringing in big boys agency? Or are we looking at this falling right under our gahment - IDA? Or are we opening for a pitch which most likely to fall under SPH's umbrella since they are the only most reputable media house and media owner in Singapore. Who own journalism better than our only most read newspapers?

For those who had no idea, there was an attempt of some sort years ago to put this in place which I guess it didn't managed to get much support. Who knows it might get more attention now since we have a problem now and we (kinda) did not back then. Apparently the Association of Bloggers (Singapore) had the foresight and see this coming but lacks of support and once again we are going back into the pattern and routine of being reactive instead.

What do YOU think? 

I tried to do a little search, when I say little I mean very very little like maybe 4-5 different keywords search on google which brings me to almost nothing about any country having such a detailed system for blogging. I mean I believe most country has bigger fish on their plate and also blogging is pretty much a hobby. I guess we paid the price for low crime rate. (and lack of real news)

I also did a little interview with some of our "industry partners" and here's what they say. Name has been edited to protect their identities. 

"What do you think the implications on bloggers will be if the blogging industry were to be governed?"

Is it really needed? 

I might be posting a fair bit of questions here with no answers. Do we need such rules?

How much more complication can this bring in for the already complicated industry? Do they really mean what they say or are they saying this just for the sake of "answering" to the public?

If you ask me, I am not really into this kind of things not because I find it too troublesome but I find it causing too much "stress" for what it could have been just a simply love for writing and sharing.

Not all bloggers are into business making, not all bloggers are trained journalist or marketing person. Of course like I mentioned this rule might not applies to all but with all these in mind I think we are limiting talented writers(if any) to join the industry but the flip side is that we will probably get a better quality control as well.

So will our gahment step in? Will someone take over this under their portfolio? Maybe our MP Baey? Maybe Baey-by? #ofmaybeteoserluck #sincehelikehashtagsomuch #thismpsibeiboleh #mpchallengestomp #andreallytiostomp #ownselfstompsibo #clickhereifudunnowhathappened 

Mr.Smith, serious business siol