What does Lurking mean?
Reading content without participating
Detailed Explanation
'Lurking' is the act of reading or observing an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or social media feed, without actively participating or posting. A 'lurker' is a user who consumes content but does not contribute. It's a very common form of online participation.
Usage Examples
“I've been lurking on that subreddit for months but I've never made a post.”
“He was just lurking in the Discord chat, reading everyone's messages.”
“After a year of lurking, I finally decided to make an account and comment.”
Origin & History
The term has been a part of internet culture since the days of Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) and Usenet in the 1980s. It was, and still is, often considered good etiquette for new users to lurk for a while to understand the community's rules and culture before posting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lurking a bad thing?
No, not at all. It is a natural and accepted way for people to engage with online communities. Most users of any large online platform are lurkers.