Re-branding and re-discovering the digital information user

It is time that researchers and practitioners give further thought to the t erminology that they employ to study information use and information seekin g in the digital environment. Existing (print) terminology is proving an im pediment to understanding what happens when people go online to communicate or retrieve information, as they are increasing ly doing. It also probably produces false readings. This article is based upon the findings of a numb er of funded research projects, which examined the behaviour of the digital information 'user.' The studies were undertaken by City University's Inter net Studies Research Group to evaluate the term 'user' and some related one s - information seeking, intermediary and end-user, in the light of our kno wledge of the new digital information order. A replacement term - the infor mation 'player' - is presented for consideration and explained. The new ter m should enhance our understanding of what goes on in the digital informati on environment and will bring us closer to the information mainstream, whic h is ever more represented by the World Wide Web and the use of its informa tion resources.