The Origin of Online Community and Social Media

ShoalHarbor The Origin of Online Community


Online Community is here, but where did it come from? In this post ShoalHarbor identifies the origin of online community and its definition.


Community is not a new idea, in fact it dates back to the beginning of time. Traditional community was based on where you lived. If you lived in a designated area you then became part of that community. Interactions in these cases were based on face to face social engagement.


Origin of Online Community and Social Media


This traditional community was transferred across into the online space as part of the evolution of the internet.

The concept of the Global Village was born:

• Instant communication!

• Communication with no geographical borders!

• The use of global payment systems!

• Business and Social Media on the Go!

• The emergence of information at our fingertips online!

• Relationships shifting from face to face to online community engagement!



The challenge today is to fathom and measure what people do in their online spaces:

• How do people express themselves in an online community?

• What motivates people to engage?

• How do people govern themselves in an online community?

• What attracts people to participate?

• Why do some people observe as opposed to engage in online community?

• What is the value of the observers in online community as opposed to the people who participate?


We note that there are signs that define an online community actually exists:

• The first sign relates to actual Content, Articles, Posts and News about a certain interest pertaining to a group of like minded people.

• Email sign-ups, Forums, Newsgroups, and Commenting are other signs that an active online Community exists.

• Instant Chat and Messaging show the power of the web and that people want instant gratification in communication. True engagement is the main sign that an online community is functioning correctly.

These were some of the first basic steps in the identification and evolution of the online virtual community and Social Media.

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