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((Copied from article 'Virtual Community'))

Purpose[edit]

Virtual communities are used for a variety of social and professional groups; interaction between community members vary from personal to purely formal. For example, an email distribution list operates on an informational level.

Internet-based[edit]

The explosive diffusion of the Internet since the mid-1990s fostered the proliferation of virtual communities in the form of social networking services and online communities. Virtual communities may synthesize Web 2.0 technologies with the community, therefore have been described as Community 2.0. Although strong community bonds have been forged online since the early 1970s on timeshare systems like PLATO and later on Usenet. Online communities depend upon social interaction and exchange between users online. This interaction emphasizes the reciprocity element of the unwritten social contract between community members.

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Effects On health Concerns

with a virtual community's tendency to promote less socializing include: verbal aggression and inhibitions, promotion of suicide and issues with privacy. However, studies regarding the health effects of these communities did not show any negative effects. There was a high drop-out rate of participants in the study. The health-related effects are not clear because of the lack of thoroughness and the variation in studies done on the subject.[14]

Rather, recent studies have looked into development of health related communities and their impact on those already suffering health issues. These forms of social networks allow for open conversation between individuals who are going through similar experiences, whether themselves or in their family.[15] Such sites have so grown in popularity that now many health care providers form groups for their patients by providing web areas where one may direct questions to doctors. These sites prove especially useful when related to rare medical conditions. People with rare or debilitating disorders may not be able to access support groups in their physical community, thus online communities act as primary means for such support. Online health communities can serve as supportive outlets as they facilitate connecting with others who truly understand the disease, as well as offer more practical support, such as receiving help in adjusting to life with the disease.[16] Involvement in social communities of similar health interests has created a means for patients to develop a better understanding and behavior towards treatment and health practices.[17][18] Patients increasingly use such outlets, but the extent to which these practices have effects on health are still being studied.

Studies on health networks have mostly been conducted on groups which typically suffer the most from extreme forms of diseases, for example cancer patients, HIV patients, or patients with other life-threatening diseases. It is general knowledge that one participates in online communities to interact with society and develop relationships.[19] Individuals who suffer from rare or severe illnesses are unable to meet physically because of distance or because it could be a risk to their health to leave a secure environment. Thus, they have turned to the internet. A study conducted by Haven B. Battles and Lori S. Wiener on the effects of networks on children suffering from incurable diseases reveal a positive correlation in enhancing children's behaviors and overall moods.[20] Their behavior and mood not only changed, but they were more willing to go to treatment after having these interactions.[21]

In addition to communities which focus strictly on information relating to illness and disease, there are also those which focus on specific health-related conditions such as fertility issues. Some studies have indicated that virtual communities can provide valuable benefits to their users. Online health-focused communities were shown to offer a unique form of emotional support that differed from event-based realities and informational support networks. Growing amounts of presented material show how online communities affect the health of their users. Apparently the creation of health communities has a positive impact on those who are ill or in need of medical information.[22]

On civic participationReal World vs. Visual Online World

Participants of virtual communities have greater risks associated with physical reality versus online reality. Virtual communities can provide an escape for active individuals. This therefore can potentially isolate individuals from the real world and real world interactions. The physical communities loses members of society due to isolation from virtual communities. Finding a balance between the real world and the online world should be feasible within modern societies. However, individuals become comfortable interacting within virtual communities rather than interacting in the real world. People who become too involved within virtual communities to the point of addiction, can be then exposed to the negative effects that come with it. The advancements in technology is not to blame, but to which use humans use certain technology.

Virtual communities can accessed through online databases. Computers play a role in this access of virtual communities.

I would like to add another section/source here with the subtitle "The Risk of Hacking in Virtual Communities"

Information from class reading: "Protocol"

Advantages of Internet communities[edit]

Internet communities offer the advantage of instant information exchange that is not possible in a real-life community. This interaction allows people to engage in many activities from their home, such as: shopping, paying bills, and searching for specific information. Users of online communities also have access to thousands of specific discussion groups where they can form specialized relationships and access information in such categories as: politics, technical assistance, social activities, health (see above) and recreational pleasures. Virtual communities provide an ideal medium for these types of relationships because information can easily be posted and response times can be very fast. Another benefit is that these types of communities can give users a feeling of membership and belonging. Users can give and receive support, and it is simple and cheap to use.

Economically, virtual communities can be commercially successful, making money through membership fees, subscriptions, usage fees, and advertising commission. Consumers generally feel very comfortable making transactions online provided that the seller has a good reputation throughout the community. Virtual communities also provide the advantage of disintermediation in commercial transactions, which eliminates vendors and connects buyers directly to suppliers. Disintermediation eliminates pricey mark-ups and allows for a more direct line of contact between the consumer and the manufacturer.

Social capital within a community can boost economic outcomes for trust, networking, and the innovation of information sharing. Internet communities strengthen civil society and promotes social capital development. Social capital furthers the ability to address social problems that can involve local and internet based communities. Strong social bonds are formed within internet communities and connect those from different statuses of social class and power. Virtual communities allow discussions and relationships to form throughout cyberspace. The desire for being apart of a strong internet communities within society can fill the void of feeling alienated and detached from modern culture.

Disadvantages of Internet communities[edit]

While instant communication means fast access, it also means that information is posted without being reviewed for correctness. It is difficult to choose reliable sources because there is no editor who reviews each post and makes sure it is up to a certain degree of quality.

In theory, online identities can be kept anonymous which enables people to use the virtual community for fantasy role playing as in the case of Second Life's use of avatars. Some professionals urge caution with users who use online communities because predators also frequent these communities looking for victims who are vulnerable to online identity theft or online predators. The idea of using multiple online identities introduces the concept of trolling or internet troll. Trolls take advantage of internet communities by manipulating and targeting vulnerable media environments. Trolls deliberately bait internet communities and the internet users within them, in order to trigger emotional retaliation. Trolling can range from small pranks, to more serious behaviors and offenses. Trolling can include strange behavioral activity where the intent is to cause distress amongst internet communities and to ruin reputations of individuals within virtual communities. Trolling has grown to serve as a problem within a wide variety of internet communities.

The rise of technology and common use of internet communities brings about many issues with regards to online privacy and surveillance. Privacy and surveillance are often discussed with issues concerning the sharing of personal information. Privacy is the ability to maintain specific information of an individual and to set boundaries of what content remains private and what content doesn't. When an individual cannot control what information about themselves gets leaked onto internet communities, the individual may be more open to surveillance by others. Surveillance is close observation or monitoring of behavior and information. The power of surveillance is the collection of people's private information without consent or the knowledge that people are being watched. The endless amount of information and data that is circulating in new communication internet technology environments emphasizes the importance of social awareness and privacy. Potential abuse from either government corporations or individuals can be a result from the lack of privacy and heightened surveillance. Information technology and private information impacts the trust within societal internet communities.