The defining characteristic of online communities is the ongoing interactions among people over time, some of which are facilitated by technology.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

An "online community" (AKA internet community or web community) refers to any virtual environment where individuals gather to communicate, share information or resources, learn, play or spend time with one another. This term can be used to describe various social configurations, from small tight-knit groups to sites with millions of members.

Online Communities

Kraut, Robert E., and Paul Resnick. Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design. MIT Press, 2012.

Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design (Kraut and Resnick)

- Support communities
- Customer (brand) communities
- Coaching communities
- Event communities
- Action communities
- Circumstances communities
- Social communities
- Learning communities
- Networking communities
- Review communities

Types of online communities

- Encouraging commitment
- Encouraging contribution 
- Regulating behavior of its members
- Attracting and maintaining new members
- Maintaining the critical mass of users and content

Factors of a Successful Online Community

Online Communities References

Online communities can be built on a variety of technology platforms, such as email lists, forums, blogs, wikis, and social networking sites.

Where are online communities?

Online communities' common feature

Online communities serve a similar purpose as offline groups, networks and communities by providing opportunities for:
- Information sharing and learning
- Companionship and social support
- Entertainment
- Remote work

They can also generate benefits for people outside the community, such as **public goods** like:
- Open-source software
- Product reviews
- Encyclopedia pages

A **private goods** like:
- Suggestions for product improvements
- New product designs

for the organization that created the community.

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