Virtual community

A virtual community is a group of people who share an interest, hobby or set of views. The people in it may come from many different places. They talk with each other using technology, such as the Internet, telephone calls, texting, video calls and email.

How virtual communities communicate

Virtual communities may use any of the following to communicate:

Internet

• Chat rooms
• Email
• Instant messengers
• Internet Forums (message boards)
• Websites like social network services
• Wiki

Telephone

• Conference calls (where more than 2 people can talk at one time)

Mail

• A newsletter
• A magazine

Virtual Community Media

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  A virtual meeting held by a biodiversity community

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  Exchange of information and support in a virtual space

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  A PLATO V terminal in 1981 displaying RankTrek application

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  A Virtual therapy session for PTSD

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  Young citizens involved in civic engagement

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  An Internet forum powered by phpBB

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  An example of an IRC chat session on Xaric, a text-based client. Shown are two IRC channels and a private conversation.

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  A party scene from Second Life set in Hyrule

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  Facebook on the Ad-tech 2010