Writing Without Permission: How the Internet Democratised Everything

As a teenager, I rushed home from school, turned on my computer, and spent my afternoons until bedtime learning to build my blog. Blogging had taken off in the mid-to-late 2000s, and I was in secondary school at the time.  

From around the age of 14, I knew I wanted to become a journalist and work in the music or creative arts field. I loved writing and media, so when I discovered blogging, it became not only a hobby but also a core part of my identity. Through writing online, I connected with an online community of music lovers, tastemakers, and budding writers like myself who shared a passion for blogging and music journalism.  

I didn’t realise it at the time, but by blogging, I wasn’t just publishing my thoughts on  the web; I was also building my confidence in writing, learning how to communicate in the digital space, and developing technical skills for the type of job I wanted. My parents felt the amount of time I spent in front of the screen was excessive and a distraction. Much of our conversations were centered on this, and there were many times when parental controls and screen time limits were enforced on me.  

Looking back, I see things differently. Those afternoons and evenings I spent blogging weren’t time wasted; they were the instrumental moments that helped me gain new skills, confidence, and opportunities that shaped my future career.  

The Days of Limited Access Are Behind Us

At 15, I saw an advert in The Times promoting a Young Journalists Academy summer school. I applied, was shortlisted, and had my first article published in a local newspaper a few weeks after. It was an incredible opportunity to have gotten, but it also came about by chance because I happened to stumble across the advert at the right time. 

Historically, there is a long tradition of writers starting very young. Take Daisy Ashford for example. Born in 1881, she dictated her first story, The Life of Father McSwiney, at age four, but it wasn’t published until almost 100 years later. Today, the need to rely on others to get started as a writer has largely disappeared. Online communities used by teenagers include Write the World, which is a writing space dedicated to helping young people hone their craft, improve their writing, and develop communication and research skills that will help them in school, future careers, and beyond. WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. is an entertainment company that houses some of the world’s largest global storytelling platforms, including Wattpad, and has a total reach of approximately 145 million monthly active users. 

Another major online writing community is Archive of Your Own (AO3), which reached 11 million registered users in June 2026, just four months after reaching 10 million. That means an average of around 250,000 people joined the platform each month. There are now over 17 million fanworks across more than 79,000 fandoms on AO3, which shows how rapidly storytelling and writing communities are growing online. 

These platforms illustrate how easier it has become for children and young teenagers to share their writing and build an audience. For older teenagers (16 and over), platforms like Substack provide another pathway for them to build direct relationships with their audience through newsletters, eradicating the need for a traditional publisher. Substack says that over one million posts are discovered every day through its app, which gives upcoming writers another avenue to build an audience without needing to depend on traditional publishers or editors. Platforms like AO3, Wattpad, and Substack have lowered the barriers for young people to becoming published writers no matter their social class, location, or background. This also reflects how publishing is no longer confined to traditional publishing houses.

For many young people, writing is no longer limited to homework or school assignments. Budding young writers can publish their work and build an audience whilst developing their craft and connecting with readers all around the globe. All they need is imagination creative idea, and an internet connection to start writing immediately and without permission. 

Find Your Tribe and Thrive 

In real life, a young person may struggle to find peers or people with similar interests, but online, they can find their tribe in just a few clicks. Discord is available to users aged 13 and over, and it blocks people under 18 from accessing age-restricted content. The platform features writing hubs where members can share their work and ideas, exchange feedback, and encourage one another. Whether a person enjoys writing short stories, novels, fantasy fiction, or poetry, there are now writing groups for almost every genre you can think of. 

Many young writers grow up reading. A case study on BookTok found that digital reading communities create social experiences through interactive discussions, book discovery, and sharing book recommendations. Reading communities like this encourage young people to read more and can help them become better writers. Researchers at the University of Washington who spent nine months studying online fanfiction communities found that young writers aged 13 – 25 commonly develop their skills through mentorship, receiving feedback from fellow writers, and engaging in discussions. This suggests that these online writing groups and communities help young writers build skills in ways offline mentoring cannot. The internet hasn’t killed writing; it has only opened up more opportunities for young people to learn, develop, and grow their craft. 

Guidance is Still Required 

Although not every barrier to becoming a writer has been removed, some of the biggest blocks have disappeared. That includes needing permission to start and relying on someone else to provide you with a writing opportunity like previous generations did. Today, a young person can self-publish, bring their ideas to life through their writing, and build an audience while developing their craft no matter where they are in the world. However, guidance still matters, as do confidence and encouragement. Some online communities can be chaotic; it’s best to find a structured one that offers safe spaces and high-quality discussions. Maybe our role as adults is not simply to protect children from the internet, but to help them recognise and make the most of the opportunities it can create. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are online writing communities safe? 

Online writing groups can be great places for young people to be a part of, but not every online space offers a positive experience. Before your child joins an online writing community, find out what kind of writing they’re into and look for groups that are well moderated and structured. Parents should have regular conversations about the risks and opportunities of being online. Teach them about safety and privacy features such as privatising their accounts, flagging abusive or harmful content by reporting and blocking, and speaking up whenever they encounter anything that makes them feel uncomfortable online.

Parental controls and supervision work better with communication from both you and your child. 

My child enjoys writing. Should I encourage them to go online? 

If your child enjoys writing, you can help them build confidence by encouraging and supporting them. There is a wide range of free resources available online to help your child build and develop their craft. This includes certified online workshops, writing tutors, and supportive writing groups where they can connect with other writers and receive feedback on their work. 

Can writing online really lead to future opportunities? 

For many young people, it most certainly can. Writing often starts as a hobby or an interest before turning into something bigger. Publishing work online provides exposure to a wide and global audience, and exciting opportunities can be created from that. It can also help build a child’s confidence, communication skills, and portfolio. Although not every child may end up wanting a career in writing, the experience and exposure they get even from writing as a hobby can help open doors to other opportunities in their future education or career.