As the use of the internet progressed, more people began to use it as a space for community and solace. Slowly but surely, online forums began to emerge where people started to make space for video games, hobbies, sports, just to name a few. In Jenney Preece’s piece, “History of online communities”, she discusses the different factors that show how different communities function. According to her research, “the size of contributors, the stage of life the members are in, and if there is also an aspect of physical presence within the community” all play significant roles in determining the functionality of online space, (Preece, pg 1). Of course, there are many online communities that have millions of users, tracking down even a single contributor would take months or even years.
One of the most interesting things from Preece’s findings was the term “glocalization”, which was/is a method people use with the internet in order to extend “their contact with churches, schools, local clubs, and organizations”, (Preece, pg. 7). “Glocalization” was further defined by a Sociologist, Barry Wellman, saying, “the Internet to both expand user’s social contacts and bind them more closely to the place where they live”, (Preece, pg. 7). Preece’s study was published in 2003, meaning this was just the beginning of “glocalization”. In the eighteen years since this study was written, it seems as if “glocalization” has become even more evident in the way we use the internet. Now, the websites where people can search for local sports teams, high schools, and more, are much more accessible.
So, what was one of the first virtual communities to exist? That is, before Facebook, MySpace, Reddit, Quora, etc. came to be. Lo and behold, in 1985, The WELL came to be. The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL), is known as the "primordial ooze where the online community movement was born," (What is The WELL?). It was founded in association with the Whole Earth Review, and now is owned and run by a group of long-term active members. This is also where Howard Rheingold, an American critic, and writer, coined the term "virtual communities", which he eventually write a book on, "The Virtual Community", discussing "cultural and political implications off a new communications medium," (Rheingold).
The WELL is a place for conversation and discussion and has been fully operating since it began in '85. Wired Magazine even stated that it was the "world's most influential online community". Its first computer and modem rack was located physically in Sausalito, CA. However, now as technology has progressed, the WELL is dancing up in the clouds. There is no invitation necessary to join the WELL; it is a space for non-anonymous users, so a real name is necessary.
Learning the historical background of online communities also created connections between this research and class discussions, specifically those we had at the beginning of the semester on the history of the internet. During the historical/technological section of COM 421, we learned what was at the core of the internet. We learned that none of what we have now would be possible without the cables that run under the ocean, which are sometimes chewed on by sharks, causing us to lose connection. 5G would not be possible without the satellites that float high above us, creating signals in megaseconds, letting us send images to each other in the blink of an eye.