Just Here for the Comments: Lurking as Digital Literacy Practice

This book challenges the conventional perspective of what counts as participatory online culture by presenting lurking as a communication and literacy practice that resists dominant power structures. It calls for internet researchers to broaden their methods to include lurkers' participation and presence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2024
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Online spaces provide a unique platform for individuals to engage with content and communities, whether through posting or lurking. While lurking involves simply reading posts and comments without contributing, it is important to recognize that it is not a passive activity. Readers of social media are actively making decisions and taking grassroots actions on various dimensions.

This understudied phenomenon is explored in depth in the book, challenging the conventional perspective of what constitutes participatory online culture. The author presents lurking as a communication and literacy practice that resists dominant power structures, offering an innovative approach to digital qualitative methods.

The book is unique and original in its subject, calling for internet researchers to broaden their methods to include the participation and presence of lurkers. By recognizing the active role of readers in online spaces, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics and complexities of digital communities.

In conclusion, lurking in online spaces is not a passive activity but rather a communication and literacy practice that contributes to the broader dynamics of digital communities. By including lurkers in research, internet researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the online world and its impact on individuals and society.

Weight: 244g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529227284