Digital Residents & Visitors
Many of us Millenials make up a large percentage of what is typically defined as a digital “resident” – we spend the most part of our day online without even batting an eyelid. They practically “live” online. The first thing that many of us do when we wake up it to check our mobile phones. We connect with friends, get updates on areas of interest, and read the news online during those first few minutes of our day.
I’m not sure if this is for everyone, but I cannot start my day properly without checking my phone. Watching videos in the morning is like my cup of coffee. 🙂
These individuals “socialise and express” themselves online through social networking platforms but also use the internet for many practical reasons. However, digital “residents” are not just made up of Millenials, many people who are older are also guilty of heavily involving themselves online.
Digital visitors are the total opposite. As the name suggests, these individuals use the web as a tool when the needs arise, to achieve specific goals. Their motivation towards using the internet is completely different.Visitors are not likely to have any form of online profile. “They are anonymous, their activity invisible to all but the databases running the Web sites they use.”
To be honest, I cannot recall anyone that i know that is a digital “visitor”. Oh, how much humanity has evolved. However, like digital “residents”, this group is not just restricted to older people.
People may switch over from being digital “visitors” to digital “residents”. My dad was a digital “visitor” a couple of years ago, only using the internet to order products and Google Search areas he was unfamiliar with, until he discover the WONDERFUL wide world of ….
Facebook.
Oh and also Instagram too.
From being someone who uses the internet once every few days, he likes and comments on my daily social media posts without fail, and uploads his own content as well. Funny.
References:
http://tallblog.conted.ox.ac.uk/index.php/2008/07/23/not-natives-immigrants-but-visitors-residents/
https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/news/index.php?post=2011-06-01:165653:951
Living & Working on the Web 