The emergence of social media has transformed and increased the ways in which people can use the Internet to interact with others and locate information; however, not all individuals choose to engage with the web to the same extent. In his video, Dave White discusses the Visitors and Residents theory to explain the different ways people approach the web. The theory itself is a continuum that ranges from Visitors → to Residents, rather than two separate categories. Those who are visitors tend to enter the web world very briefly to complete a task and then exit without leaving behind a trace of their identity. In contrast, those at the opposite end of the continuum, the residents, create an online identity that exists even when they are offline and utilize online platforms as social spaces to connect with others. Interestingly, though, individuals can be on different ends of the continuum depending on the context. Dave White, for instance, considers himself a resident professionally; however, when it comes to his personal life, he is a visitor because he chooses not to make all aspects of his life very visible. Moreover, an individual's initial position on the continuum can vary and change over time. Even though an individual may begin as a visitor, if they begin to see an online platform as a necessity and increase their online visibility, they will move towards the resident end of the continuum.
I found White’s explanation of the Visitors and Residents theory intriguing, and as he explained it, I was able to make a few connections to my own online presence. Over the years, I have moved from one end of the continuum to the other several times. As a high school student, during the MySpace and early Facebook years, I would have placed myself on the resident end of the continuum because I kept my visibility high and constantly used those social platforms to connect with others. Then, once I began college, I began to shy away from social media because I did not see much use in them, instead I would mainly go online to complete school assignments and then log off. Currently, however, I am trying to move back towards becoming a resident of the web - at least professionally - by increasing my online visibility through Twitter, Pinterest, and PLN blogs. Through the credential program, I have witnessed how important it is for educators to create an online identity and connect with others in order to better help their students.
White, D. (2013, May 31). Visitors and Residents [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sFBadv04eY