TippyMing

The internet has created a huge change in the way we live our lives, shop, communicate with each other and work. As a result of spending so much time online our communities were fragmenting. But the internet has provided a solution to that as well. Community websites have sprung up to provide a platform for people to meet, interact, share their thoughts, views and interests. It is much the same as a traditional community except that it is online.

Community websites are of several kinds. There are those catering to popular culture like specific music, movies, TV shows etc. These sites are the most numerous. Then there are those sites which cater to a non-mainstream or alternate lifestyle such as gay issues. The third highest community website category is the ethnic/religious category like Vietnamese, Christians etc. Then there are websites devoted to health issues like pregnancy, diabetes, depression, AIDS etc. There are sites for the hobbyists like candle making enthusiasts. There are vocational web sites for people of a particular profession like doctors or linux enthusiasts where they pool in and disseminate information. Then there are community websites that promote political causes or activism. There are functional sites which undertake certain functions for their members like searching for a job or finding a school friend. Monster.com and batchmates.com are examples of this. Community websites devoted to geographical area and the people living in it are also popular.

Community websites have several benefits. Other than letting people meet old friends and make new ones, it performs the valuable function of giving the user a place to belong on the impersonal internet. For example there is a sizeable Indian population settled abroad who can logon to any Indian Community Web Site to catch up on what is happening back home. These websites provide chat rooms, blogs, forums and bulletin boards for people to interact. So far community websites offer free membership.