In the YouTube video “Visitors & Residents,” Dave White discusses why people are either digital visitors or digital residents. Although he expressed a clear distinction between the two, he explained that an individual does not have to necessarily be one or the other. Rather, he believes that there exists a continuum in which “visitor” is at one end, “resident” is at the opposite end, and an individual can be found on any point on that line. He also added an additional dimension that displays a persons digital usage based on their motivation. He states that a person who is personally motivated to use technology is different that a person who is institutionally motivated. I agree immensely with this theory. I previously believed that people either truly invested in technology/social media or they did not; they were either one or the other. After watching this video I understand more clearly that people use those tools in a variety of different consistencies depending on personal motivation or institutional motivation.
It was interesting to me to find that the various approaches to the web are not determined by skill or age. Previously, I held the perspective that it was very much based on skill and that skill was dependent on age. It was my belief that technology is second nature for the younger generations and this is why they used it more frequently. I now realize that it is based more on culture and personal/institutional motivations.
I think that I see myself somewhere in the middle between a resident and a visitor. Although I have a presence established on different social media sites, I have always had a “take it or leave it” perspective on both of those platforms. Many times I would delete or deactivate certain accounts when I found myself utilizing them too often. I definitely connected with the analogy of social media being a tool box. Typically I would log on to project information or gather information and then that would be it. However, I now realize the importance of changing my perspective on HOW I can be using these platforms. Now that I have a better understanding of the immense usefulness of Twitter and other social media platforms, I know that I will be quickly moving towards being a digital resident.
White, Dave. (2013, May 31). Visitors and Residents. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=0sFBadv04eY