Gourt > Kids and Teens > People and Society > Online Communities
A virtual community is a group of people primarily or initially communicating or interacting with each other by means of information technologies, typically over the Internet, rather than in person. Virtual communities are also known as online communities or computer-mediated communities (CMC).
Overview
Today, virtual community or online community can be used loosely for a variety of social groups interacting via the Internet. It does not necessarily mean that there is a strong bond among the members, although Rheingold mentions in that virtual communities form "when people carry on public discussions long enough, with sufficient human feeling, to form webs of personal relationships" *. An email distribution list may have hundreds of members and the communication which takes place may be merely informational (questions and answers are posted), but members may remain relative strangers and the membership turnover rate could be high. This is in line with the liberal use of the term community.
The term virtual community is attributed to the book of the same title by Howard Rheingold, published in 1993. The book discussed his adventures on The WELL and onward into a range of computer-mediated communication and social groups. The technologies included Usenet, MUDs (Multi-User Dungeon) and their derivatives MUSHes and MOOs, IRC (Internet Relay Chat), chat rooms and electronic mailing lists; the World Wide Web as we know it today was not yet used by many people. Rheingold pointed out the potential benefits for personal psychological well-being, as well as for society at large, of belonging to such a group.
More on [ Virtual community ]
RT @CTSH_Tweeters Here is the URL by @Cognizant on how to leverage online consumer communities http://bit.ly/8DJEjY [pdf] for Social CRM
arunavabose (Arunava Bose) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:06:51 -0000
RT @CTSH_Tweeters Here is the URL by @Cognizant on how to leverage online consumer communities http://bit.ly/8DJEjY [pdf] for Social CRM
41 tips over online communities http://bit.ly/5w8itC
medlund (Marianne) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:06:19 -0000
41 tips over online communities http://bit.ly/5w8itC
Good advice about avoiding mistakes when planning online communities http://tinyurl.com/ykmc4ym
siteiqmarty (Marty Gruhn) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:49:40 -0000
Good advice about avoiding mistakes when planning online communities http://tinyurl.com/ykmc4ym
if you're involved in online communities, this is an EXCELLENT article 10 Rules for Increasing Community Engagement http://bit.ly/6l3xT2
bteaster (bteaster) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:47:28 -0000
if you're involved in online communities, this is an EXCELLENT article 10 Rules for Increasing Community Engagement http://bit.ly/6l3xT2
RT @AliceTasman: RT @jenniferpooley RT @wmclarkassoc "41 tips for building online communities" http://j.mp/6NkF8j
JVNLA (Jennifer Weltz JVNLA) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:43:20 -0000
RT @AliceTasman: RT @jenniferpooley RT @wmclarkassoc "41 tips for building online communities" http://j.mp/6NkF8j
RT @JasonPeck: RT @RichMillington: 41 tips for building online communities (book publishers): http://bit.ly/5tSIJT
TheCR (Community Roundtable) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:23:40 -0000
RT @JasonPeck: RT @RichMillington: 41 tips for building online communities (book publishers): http://bit.ly/5tSIJT
ALFY - The Web Portal for Kids - Play games, get free e-mail, listen to music and stories, create a home page, and do more in this online community for kids, teachers, and parents.
Meta Description: [ ALFY - A fun kids web site with fun, free, online games. Kids of all ages will enjoy the fun activities on this web site. ]
BlackDog - Features free on-line games, puzzles, mazes, screen savers, stories, postcards, and holiday fun.
Meta Description: [ BlackDog - The Site for Kids! On-line games, puzzles, mazes, screen savers, stories, postcards and holiday fun can't be beat! ]
BombPop.com - Offers a community for kids with games, high score contests, a post office, a messaging system, news, interactive votes, and a complete Parents' Guide.
Buster and Pinky - A fun site for kids exploring the adventures of two real-life dog friends.
Meta Description: [ Buster and Pinky, Buster & Pinky, superdogs of the Internet, supermodel dogs, Westminster dog show winners, Oops, we did it again!. ]
ChatterBee's - Community for teens with homework help, e-cards, and chat.
Meta Description: [ ChatterBee's offers free e-mail, free e-cards, free chat, and free homework help to teens and the young at heart! ]
ElvenKids - A website for kids and teenagers featuring live chat, message boards, games, online tools, and more.
FirstFoo Interactive Storyteller - An interactive community where budding storywriters of all ages, writing experience, and interests can meet in a collaborative environment.
Meta Description: [ The Storyteller is an interactive community where budding storywriters of all ages, writing experience and interests can meet in a collaborative environment. Authors can view and post stories in one of the many categories, add to existing stories, and manage their own personal profiles. The inter... ]
Go4GoWeb.com - Includes online games, a forum, homework help, online greeting cards, and website listings.
Meta Description: [ teen-s.ca is part of the Go4GoWeb Teen Network. Providing a community for teens to share thoughts in the forum, get homework help, and relieve stress through free online games. ]
Headbone Zone - A site featuring free chat, online games, free e-mail for kids, prizes, and downloads.
Meta Description: [ Headbone.com is a kid, teen, and tween site bursting at the seams with free educational activities, cool kid games, stuff to download, and more! ]
Kellogg's Kids Club - Quizzes, online games, polls, and forums.
500
Kid Boards - Topics range from puberty to sports to homework help.
KidKountry.com - Features a community for kids and teenagers to play games, listen to music, get fashion tips, and meet new friends.
Meta Description: [ KidKountry.com continually highlights the achievements of talented Kids from the age of 4 through 19. A talent scout showcasing the talents of Kids displaying how great it is to be a Kid! ]
Kids Chat - Community that offers chat rooms for preteens, jokes, search, comments, and help.
Meta Description: [ The fun place for preteens and kids to chat ]
Kids Online - Includes games, free web pages, free email, stories, computer educational activities, free downloads, internet safety topics, e-cards, a bulletin board, and a computer terms dictionary.
Meta Description: [ Kids Online - The fun place for kids to learn about computers and the internet! Free downloads, email, activities, chat, games, and lots more! ]
500
Kids Who Read - Provides an online book club for kids of all ages. Kids from all over the globe come to congregate and discuss books.
Kids' Park Japan - Find pen pals for kids throughout the world.
Meta Description: [ Japanese pen pals,pen pal,pen pals,Japan,japan,pen pals,pen pal,internet friends, make friends overseas, penpals, Kids Park Japan helps you to find pen pals of Japanese kids and correspond with them in English. It is dedicated to offering children a fun and interesting learning place on the inte... ]
KidsCom - An educational and entertaining playground for kids 4 to 12. Games, monitored chat, and a creation center.
Meta Description: [ Kids games, chat rooms for kids, plant babies, safe site for kids - KidsCom, fun site for kids. ]
KidsCommunity - Online network offering a variety of websites for kids to find information.
Meta Description: [ kids,billi bear playground, pokemon, scooby,rug rats, nick jr, seuseville,mister rogers, national geographic, barbie, winnie the pooh, kids art,
beanie babies,bob the builder, ronald,pokemon,kimmies disney,pbs kids,ask jeeves,science for kids,coloring pages,activities,sports illustrated for kids... ]
Kidtastic - Free, safe Internet community for kids. Features games, art, music, learning, message boards, and homework help.
Meta Description: [ Thousands of fun pages filled with Games, learning, homework help, contests and prizes, music, art, coloring, painting, exploring, education, and much more! For children and families of all ages! ]
Kidworld - Community offering jokes, writing contests, games, stories, forums, keypals, and links.
Kidzworld - Includes online games, game cheats, message boards, chat, contests, sports, fashion, music, reviews and entertainment news for kids and teens.
Meta Description: [ Kidzworld is the ultimate fun kids and teen site. It has quizzes, teen chat, free online games, cheat codes, dating advice, fun games, celebrity biographies and free contests to win prizes! ]
MatMice - With an easy to use homepage builder, kids can make their very own homepage on the web - for free.
404
Mildan Bear and His Friends. - Includes fun facts and learning activities, favorite recipes, and a mail board with messages from all over the world.
Nice Attitude - Kid's portal featuring games, chat, homework help and music.
Pan's Dimented Dimension - Contains forums covering a variety of subjects.
PiggySays.com - Features games, cartoons, trivia, and interviews with young stars.
Meta Description: [ Piggysays.com has kids games, kids cartoons, online games and other child activities. Our kids' games focus on fun, learning and Internet safety., ]
PreteenPlanet.com - An interactive safe space for 9- to 13-year-olds. Includes monitored message boards, inspirational stories, and games.
Relative Access - A community allowing free website creation, games and a message board.
South Florida Children - South Florida Children is a safe place online for Children to come together to help each other be children and have fun in South Florida.
Meta Description: [ South Florida Children is a safe place online for parents and childrens to find fun things to do in the Sunshine State. Florida Kids have great things available to them and this site hopes to show the kids of Florida where to go to have fun. ]
Squigly's Playhouse - A safe place for kids to play and learn. Includes games, jokes, arts and crafts, coloring pictures, poems, postcards.
Meta Description: [ Squigly's Playhouse is a fun and safe place for kids to play and learn. There are games, jokes & riddles, arts & crafts, colouring pictures, poems, brain teasers, e-cards, and a quick poll. ]
Talented Kids - Tells the stories of kids who have accomplished great things. Also includes online games and message board.
The Youth Online Club - A place where kids come together to learn something new, make friends and donate something to charity.
Meta Description: [ The Youth Online Club has games to play, holiday pages, coloring pages, craft ideas, pirates, spy games, dinosaurs, freebies, printables and tons of other family fun. ]
Think U Know - Get the inside information on staying safe while having fun online, with games and useful links. Remember, people online might not be who they say they are.
Meta Description: [ Think U Know is a website designed to challenge you about what you already know about the internet and new technology, empower you to take control over some of the risks, and know where to go if there's a problem. ]
Wee Webbies - A community featuring educational activities. Includes online games, printable pages, web greetings, puzzles, stories and more.
Meta Description: [ Educational cartoon fun and learning for preschool and elementary kids. Math flash cards, ABC's, spelling, jokes, cartoons, greeting cards, coloring book, stories, puzzles and more! ]
Zappazoom.com - A safe learning environment where kids are encouraged to be creative and explore. Requires registration.
ZParadise.com - Family site where kids go to express their feelings. Message boards, club, games, advice, epals, and news.
Meta Description: [ A fun and inspiring paradise where kids of all ages can play, learn, and feel loved. ]
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