Mapping my Online Presence
The Problem with the term "Digital Natives"
We all have made some general assumptions about the generations. Baby Boomers ruined the environment; Gen X are cynical; Millennials are entitled and lazy; and members of Gen Z expect participation trophies. When people think about technology use, they assume the older generations are digitally illiterate; the younger generations thrive and are experts in it. This thinking has fed into the idea of “digital natives and immigrants,” terms coined by Marc Presnky in 2001. According to Presnky, the younger generations are digital natives who grew up with technology and can speak the "digital language of computers, video games, and the Internet." Members of the older generation are immigrants who struggled and had to learn the language of technology. The term, “digital native” connects technological proficiency with age. In fact, people assume that Millenials, as digital natives, “have natural instincts about how to use or fix computers and other digital products.” However, the idea of “natives and immigrants” is flawed. Technology changes rapidly, and anyone, no matter their generation, can struggle to stay up-to-date with all the advancements. Plus, there are significant variations in how people of all ages use technology. There are varying technological skills, access, experiences, and comfort levels. There is a significant difference between knowing how to use a computer at a basic level versus being able to use technology to create, analyze, communicate, collaborate, and evaluate digital information and tools. These digital skills that are not innate for people who are born for people who are born as "digital natives." Because digital natives and digital immigrants are flawed and outdated, the terminology has shifted to David White’s concepts of “Visitors and Residents.”Visitors and Residents
- Visitors: They use the internet, platforms, and digital tools to complete specific tasks. They have a purpose in mind and select an online tool to meet their needs. They set aside time to go online and leave no trace.
- Resident: Use the Internet as a social space to connect, interact, and communicate. They regularly maintain their online presence and leave social traces that link to their identity and personality.
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| Image Source: Nic Fair |
My Visitor and Resident Map
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| Image Source: Blog Author |
Professional Apps
The top half of the quadrant represents the apps and websites I use as a library and technology assistant at an elementary school library. The visitor apps and websites on the left are only used to find information on students. I use Go Guardian to monitor students’ online activities and Skyward to find information on student scheduling, contact, and data. I also use professional visitor apps to do my job. I use TitleWave to find, locate, and order library materials, create a saved list to aid with purchases, and evaluate the library collection. I also need Follet Destiny for circulation, cataloging, inventory, and library reports. The apps and websites that fall into my professional resident mode include communication tools like Zoom, Teams, and Outlook Email. I need them to reach, call, or message the school community. I use Google Suites, Google Classroom, and Clever to create, collaborate, and share teaching and library resources.
I like to limit my usage of these professional apps during my working hours because I want a balance between my work life at the elementary school and my personal life. If I cannot finish everything during the day, I will leave it until the next day. Although I have the Outlook app on my phone, I will not respond to emails outside working hours. I do not bring my work laptop home unless there is a possibility we will have a remote day during the winter.
Personal Resident: Social Media and Connection
In my personal life, almost all of my resident technologies are for social engagement and personal communication. I use these resident apps every single day of the week, multiple times of the day. I admit I spend too much time on them. I could set up time limits for these apps, but I know I will immediately override them. For example, I spent almost twelve hours on social media last week. I check my social media accounts when I wake up, during my lunch break, and especially after work. Usage increases during the weekend when I have more free time. I use social media to connect, check notifications, post content, respond to messages, and share information with friends, family, and supporters. My engagement with social media leaves a trace that connects it back to my life and personality. Out of all my social media, I use Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat the most. I spend an average of 1 hour and 23 minutes daily on Instagram posting content, liking, commenting, sharing, and saving content; scrolling mindlessly; and messaging two of my best friends. I also create and engage with content on TikTok. I use Snapchat to send streaks, send messages, make calls, and post stories.
I use apps like Facetime, Phone, Messages, and Messenger to communicate and connect with those I love. I primarily text instead of call and Facetime. I prefer texting because it allows me to answer messages when it is convenient, I have more time to think about my answers, and I can send links to websites, gifs, files, images, videos, and emojis. I message my partner, my sisters, and my family every day. We catch up our lives, share digital files, plan activities, and coordinate vacation times. Last week, I received 182 text messages from them. With Google Drive, I use it to store images, files, videos, and documents. However, I also have shared folders, which I use to collaborate with my classmates, family, and friends on projects and events.
Personal Visitor: Entertainment and Management
My entertainment and personal management are predominantly on the visitor side. I use streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Max, and Disney+ to watch movies and shows. I also spend too much time on it. My daily average screen time for Netflix alone is 1 hour and 13 minutes. I try to limit it only during dinner time, but the shows get the best of me. I also listen to music on Spotify when I work, work out, drive, and perform mundane tasks around my home. I check the weather, look at and edit photos, and use Google Maps multiple times a day. I use Google Maps almost every time I drive because I like to know how long my trip is, and I have a horrible sense of direction. I also use these personal visitor apps for banking, paying bills, exchanging money, online shopping, and taking notes. I do not do these actions that often and only use the apps to accomplish a task. They do not have any socializing aspect with them.
The Overlaps
There is also some overlap between the visitor and resident mode of engagement. For example, I use LiveWell to book appointments, order medication, and access test results. I also use it as a connection tool to communicate with my doctor. I ask her anything as mundane as clarifying information to asking about personal health concerns. I also use Google Calendar to manage my life. As a visitor, I use it as a reminder tool to tell me where to be at a specific time. As a resident tool, I use it to schedule and ensure that I am scheduling time for my partner, my family, friends, and any other engagement I may have. At the center of my map is Google Chrome. As a visitor, I use it to access information and answer questions. As a resident, I use these websites to communicate and engage with people who are part of my personal and professional life.
Take Aways
Creating a digital map made me realize just how many apps I use in my life. I use many apps to complete a task, but I also spend so much time using specific apps to stay in touch with people. It was also a wake-up call on how much time I spend online and on my phone. Last week, I spent 26 hours and 39 minutes on my phone and 31 hours and 11 minutes on my iPad. I have no idea how much time I spend on my work and personal laptops. I need technology to connect with people and perform my job, but I also need to try to put the phone down and physically spend quality time with those I care about without a phone in between us.
Resources to Build Your Own Map
If you are interested in creating your own Resident and Visitor Map, check out these short resources:
- YouTube video where David White map out his own digital space
- Visitor and Resident Mapping App
References
JISC Netskills. (2014, March 10). Visitors and Residents [Video]. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/sPOG3iThmRI?si=bwsQ0IywHjhmUmkl.
Moran, K. (2016, January 3). Millennials as Digital Natives: Myths and Realities. NN Group.
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/millennials-digital-natives/.
Nicfair. (2016, Sept. 15). A Research Blog about Personal Learning Networks and Digital
Prensy, M. (2001, October). Digital Natives Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, Retrieved on Sept. 11, 2023, from
https://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20
Digital%0Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
Visitors & Residents. (n.d.) OCLC Research. http://experimental.worldcat.org/vandrmapping/signIn.
White, David (2013, June, 05) Visitors and Residents mapping activity [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/x9IMObcyKbo?si=_KNQsG-m5Dqxj3uG.
This is a fantastic reflection, Jessa.
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