virtual communities
Internet-based social networks
Virtual communities are groups of people who interact primarily through digital platforms rather than physical proximity.
Members share interests, information, or social bonds via forums, social media, gaming spaces, or other online environments.
The term emphasizes that meaningful community can form without geographic co-location: She found her virtual community more supportive than her neighbors.
Unlike in-person communities, virtual ones can span continents and time zones, though they face challenges around trust and shallow connection.
People in an organization
- avatarsDigital or divine incarnations
- handlesGrasping parts or manages
- usernamesAccount login identifiers
- profilesSummaries of characteristics
moderators · admins · lurkers · contributors · influencers · vloggers · subscribers · followers
Venues for collective discourse
- discordLack of agreement
- subredditsTopical forums within one site
- chatroomsOnline spaces for conversation
- MMORPGsPersistent multiplayer virtual worlds
wikis · blogosphere · twitch · slack · listservs · IRC · clubhouse · metaverse
Expected behavioral standards
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- netiquetteInternet conduct standards
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
traditions · lore · jargon · slang · rituals · initiation · reputation · karma
Publishing content online
- commentingMaking remarks about
- sharingDividing among others
- likingPositive inclination toward
- upvotingRegistering approval online
threading · messaging · chatting · streaming · tagging · mentioning · replying · reacting
State of fitting in
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- kinshipState of being related
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
fandoms · tribes · cliques · subcultures · identity · solidarity
members
People in an organization
- avatarsDigital or divine incarnations
- handlesGrasping parts or manages
- usernamesAccount login identifiers
profiles · moderators · admins · lurkers · contributors · influencers · vloggers · subscribers · followers · newbies
forums
Venues for collective discourse
- discordLack of agreement
- subredditsTopical forums within one site
- chatroomsOnline spaces for conversation
MMORPGs · wikis · blogosphere · twitch · slack · listservs · IRC · clubhouse · metaverse
norms
Expected behavioral standards
- etiquetteRules of polite conduct
- netiquetteInternet conduct standards
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
rules · traditions · lore · jargon · slang · rituals · initiation · reputation · karma · badges
posting
Publishing content online
- commentingMaking remarks about
- sharingDividing among others
- likingPositive inclination toward
upvoting · threading · messaging · chatting · streaming · tagging · mentioning · replying · reacting · emoji
belonging
State of fitting in
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- kinshipState of being related
affinity · fandoms · tribes · cliques · subcultures · identity · solidarity
moderation
Avoidance of excess
muting · reporting · flagging · appeals · elections · voting · consensus · transparency · accountability · verification
- digital societysocial networks, internet, digital age, internet culture, digital natives
- online communitiesforum, discussion board, forums, message board, chat rooms
- online spaceswebsite, websites, webpage, web pages, web page
- cyberculturecyberculture, internet culture, memes, internet memes, meme culture
- chat roomschat rooms, chatrooms, channels, IRC, lobby
- peer supportpeer counseling, peer mentors, peer counselors, support networks, self-help groups
virtual communitiestown halls
Local government headquarters
neighborhood gatherings · village life · tribal communities · commune · ethnic communities
virtual communitiessocial isolation
Lack of human contact
atomization · disconnection · solitude · alienation · anomie
virtual, virtually, communities, virtualization, virtualize, virtual community