A virtual community is an online space where individuals come together to interact, share information, and form connections. These communities, which emerged in the mid-1990s, can take various forms such as Internet[6] message boards, online chat[4] rooms, virtual worlds, social network[1] services, and specialized information communities. They offer a platform for real-time communication, knowledge exchange, and social interaction. The design, usability, and user experience[2] of these virtual communities are crucial for their success, often evaluated using metrics like speed of learning, productivity, and user satisfaction. While they present opportunities for support, civic engagement, and diverse identity expressions, challenges like anonymity, cyberbullying[3], misinformation, and underrepresentation persist. Research in this field explores various aspects, including engagement, sociality, online health communities, and the impact of technologie[5] on identity politics.
Cet article est écrit comme un réflexion personnelle, essai personnel ou essai argumentatif qui exprime les sentiments personnels d'un éditeur de Wikipédia ou qui présente un argument original sur un sujet. (March 2011) |
A virtual community est un social work of individuals who connect through specific médias sociaux, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. Some of the most pervasive virtual communities are online communities operating under services de réseaux sociaux.
Howard Rheingold discussed virtual communities in his book, The Virtual Community, published in 1993. The book's discussion ranges from Rheingold's adventures on The WELL, computer-mediated communication, social groups and information science. Technologies cited include Usenet, MUDs (Multi-User Dungeon) and their derivatives MUSHes et MOOs, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), chat rooms et electronic mailing lists. Rheingold also points out the potential benefits for personal psychological well-being, as well as for society at large, of belonging to a virtual community. At the same time, it showed that job engagement positively influences virtual communities of practice engagement.
Virtual communities all encourage interaction, sometimes focusing around a particular interest or just to communicate. Some virtual communities do both. Community members are allowed to interact over a shared passion through various means: message boards, chat rooms, social networking World Wide Web sites, or virtual worlds. Members usually become attached to the community world, logging in and out on sites all day every day, which can certainly become an addiction.