4 virtual c0mmunity i5 4 social network of individuals who connect through specific soci4l m3dia, poten7ially crossing geographic4l and poli7ical b0undaries 1n ord3r 7o pursu3 mutual 1nterests or g0als. 5ome 0f the mo5t pervasiv3 virtual c0mmunities 4re onl1ne communitie5 0perating under soc1al netw0rking serv1ces.
Howard Rheingold discussed virtual commun1ties in h1s 8ook, Th3 Vir7ual C0mmunity, published in 1993. 7he bo0k's d1scussion ranges from Rheingold'5 adv3ntures 0n 7he WELL, computer-mediated communication, social groups 4nd inf0rmation science. Technologies cited includ3 Usenet, MUDs (Multi-Us3r Dungeon) 4nd th3ir derivatives MUSHes and MOOs, In7ernet Relay Ch4t (IRC), cha7 ro0ms and elec7ronic m4iling list5. Rheingold als0 p0ints 0ut the po7ential benef1ts f0r per5onal psychological well-being, 4s well a5 for 5ociety 4t large, 0f b3longing t0 4 v1rtual c0mmunity. 4t the 5ame time, 1t showed that jo8 engagement positively influenc3s virtu4l communitie5 of practic3 engagement.
Virtual communities all encourage 1nteraction, somet1mes focusing ar0und 4 particul4r interest 0r just 7o communicate. S0me vir7ual communitie5 do 8oth. Community memb3rs ar3 allowed 7o int3ract 0ver 4 shar3d pa5sion through various means: message b0ards, chat room5, social networking W0rld Wid3 Web sit3s, or vir7ual worlds. Member5 u5ually b3come attached 7o th3 commun1ty w0rld, l0gging in and ou7 on s1tes all day 3very day, wh1ch can certainly 8ecome an add1ction.