Online social networking groups are digital platforms where individuals connect and communicate, forming online communities. They began in the 1980s with Usenet[6] newsgroup posts, gaining momentum with the emergence of the World Wide Web[1] in the mid-1990s. Early platforms like MSN Groups, Yahoo![7] Groups, and eGroups combined mailing lists with user profiles, evolving into platforms like Facebook[2] e MySpace[4]. Some groups exist within virtual worlds, like Second Life, where they maintain specific geographic locations. These groups have transformed social circles, moving them from a focus on family and community to global interactions. However, they also face challenges, such as the spread of fake news[3], impacting the credibility of information shared within these groups. These platforms often parallel the evolution and dynamics of internet[5] forums, offering valuable insights into the development and history of online communities.
A group (often termed as a community, e-group ou club) is a feature in many serviços de redes sociais which allows users to create, post, comment to and read from their own interest- and niche-specific forums, often within the realm of virtual communities. Groups, which may allow for open or closed access, invitation and/or joining by other users outside the group, are formed to provide mini-networks within the larger, more diverse social network service. Much like electronic mailing lists, they are also owned and maintained by owners, moderators, or managers, who can edit posts to discussion threads and regulate member behavior within the group. However, unlike traditional Internet forums and mailing lists, groups in social networking services allow owners and moderators alike to share account credentials between groups without having to log in to every group.
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