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The Social Dynamics of Online Communities
Online communities have been around 40+ years. Newer ones are having greater influence over our real-world societies.
From subreddits to Facebook groups and discord channels, how humans are organising and leveraging the power of online communities offers us a fascinating window into how traditional social dynamics are adapting and transforming in digital spaces. And influencing our real-world lives. This also tells us why brands that try to build their own digital communities mostly fail.
Many online communities ebb and flow like the tides. Some form “tidal pools” if you will, that can last for many years, most survive around 18–48 months (based on my research). Yet there’s some that have been running for 40+ years.
I’m condensing a lot into a short article here! In the last part I will look at the possible future of online communities.
The Usenet newsgroup comp.risks started in 1985 and alt.folklore.urban started in 1988 and remain active to this day. Then there’s the venerated Well (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) one of the most significant and influential online communities. Original ones likes these started in the late 1970’s often as Bulletin Boards.
