Lurker
A forum user who reads but doesn't post
Example
I use Stack Overflow, but I'm just a lurker
Related Slang
bump | Forum post message bump |
OP | Original poster |
Sub | Subreddit |
ABP | Already been posted |
anon | Anonymous |
c/p | Crossposting |
Flamer | A person who angers other Internet users |
Troll | A person who posts offensive comments |
A lurker is a person who frequently reads posts on a forum or social media platform but does not post themselves. These readers prefer to "lurk" in the background of online communities, either because they're shy or don't feel they have anything to contribute.
Some communities embrace lurkers, while others dislike them. For example, one community may be happy to have lurkers reading (and potentially sharing) its content, while another may question why lurkers are "spying" on them. In large online communities, like Reddit, the majority of users are lurkers, who are accessing the community only to read and share others' content. Most of these users are unlikely to ever make a post or comment.
Eventually, however, a lurker may "de-lurk" and choose to become an active part of the community in which they previously lurked. Many lurkers' first posts begin with the words "longtime lurker, first-time poster."