Mapping Your Digital Space

VISITORS AND RESIDENTS

In 2004, David White introduced the "Visitors and Residents" theory as a way of understanding how individuals engage with the internet. The theory offers valuable insights into the different modes of engagement, shedding light on how we navigate the digital landscape. White proposes that there are two main modes of engagement: visitors and residents.

Image Source: https://daveowhite.com/vandr/

Visitors are individuals who view the web as a toolbox, using it to accomplish specific tasks. They enter the digital space with a clear purpose and and exit once their objective is met. This mode is similar to visiting a library or store—you go in, get what you need, and leave. Common visitor behaviors include: searching for information on Google, checking emails, online shopping, and reading news articles. Visitors prioritize efficiency and may not leave a significant digital footprint behind.

Residents, on the other hand, consider the web as a place to establish a digital presence and engage with others. They view it as an extension of their physical lives, forming connections and relationships online. These individuals contribute content, share ideas, and interact with others regularly. Common resident behaviors include: posting on social media, blogging or vlogging, participating in online communities, and collaborating on projects in digital spaces. Residents are active and leave a substantial digital presence.

The Visitors and Residents theory is not a rigid dichotomy. It is important to note that individuals can occupy both visitor and resident roles depending on the context. In fact, most people fall somewhere on the continuum between the two extremes. The lines between these modes often blur, as someone may be a visitor when researching a topic for work but a resident when actively participating in a hobby-related online community.

David White's Visitors and Residents Theory offers a valuable perspective on how individuals engage with the web. Whether you predominantly adopt the visitor or resident mode, the internet is a versatile space that accommodates various forms of engagement. Understanding these modes can enhance digital literacy, community building, and professional development, helping us navigate the complex digital landscape more effectively. 

MAPPING MY DIGITAL SPACE

With this theory in mind I began to explore my role in the this digital landscape. I started by creating my own mapping.

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I started by looking at what apps and software I used the most and then slowly began adding items that I use more sparingly. I found that during the week, or at work, I spend a lot of time using Google Workspace, particularly Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and Google Classroom. I frequent these sites and apps multiple times a day and find it difficult to do my job effectively without them. So in terms of White's theory I believe that I am a resident when it comes to these items. However, there are some apps that I use at work sparingly, like CrisisGo, PlusPortals, or The Geometer's Sketchpad, which make me more of a resident. On the weekends however, I spend much more time on the web recreationally and for the purpose of entertainment. I am often streaming games and following my favorite teams on the ESPN app, watching Netflix, or using Amazon and it's Alexa app for shopping and controlling smart plugs, thermostats, smart locks, and Ring Cameras. I maintain various profiles, lists, favorites, and will occasionally leave reviews so I believe that this makes me a resident of these. However, there are also apps that are strictly transactional like Fidelity, TIAA Creff, Skylight Calendar, and Slack that I am much more a visitor of rather than a resident.  As for a social media, I do have a rarely used Twitter account, a Facebook account that is used to keep in touch with friends and family, and a LinkedIn account for work. I would definitely call myself a visitor to Twitter and LinkedIn because these accounts were created and maintained for professional reasons only and rarely get used.