Lurker

A 'lurker' is an individual who observes or participates in an online community, forum, or activity, such as a chat room, social media platform, or online game, but rarely or never actively contributes by posting or commenting. They primarily consume content without generating it, quietly absorbing information, observing interactions, and forming opinions. Lurkers often represent a significant portion of any online community, benefiting from the collective knowledge and discussions without adding to it. Their presence is often valuable, contributing to the overall activity by simply being there, however their non-participation can, sometimes, also cause an imbalance.

Lurker meaning with examples

• In the online gaming community, Sarah was a dedicated lurker. She spent hours watching live streams and reading forums, learning strategies and character builds, but never actually played or commented. She was perfectly happy to absorb the knowledge available.
• Many new users in the software development forum were initially lurkers. They read through discussions about coding problems, hoping to find solutions to their own issues. This was often enough for their understanding.
• As a researcher, Michael analyzed the behavior of lurkers on Reddit to get an understanding of user interests. He examined upvotes, but mainly watched, never adding any posts of his own.
• The social media page's algorithm changed to focus more on activity rather than views, which was a shame to the many 'lurkers' who just enjoyed the content.
• Before I joined the online book club, I was a lurker. I read many of their discussions and reviews for months before feeling confident enough to write my own.