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Virtual communities are the new gathering spaces of our time, thriving and becoming ever more central to digital life. Enabled by digital platforms, virtual communities bring together people with shared interests from every walk of life, powered by passionate users who drive dialogue on an extraordinary scale.
A YouGov survey conducted in 2020 revealed an interesting trend; for many people, the deepest sense of meaning and belonging was found predominantly in virtual communities. They have blossomed across every facet of our lives. From swapping travel tips with 400 million Tripadvisor users to studying the reading lists of 150 million Goodreads members or sharing posts by the 900 million Snapchat storytellers, virtual communities are reshaping how people connect, learn and feel inspired. They also take countless other virtual forms, from support groups and information desks to professional circles, cultural salons and artistic spaces, each one a reminder of the universality of common interests.
Virtual communities can enrich people’s lives in many ways, often acting as vibrant spaces for connection, creative expression and friendship. One method is allowing individuals to share their ideas, celebrate their hobbies and showcase their creative talents in multiple realms, such as literature, photography, fashion, gaming or gastronomy. Virtual communities also provide practical advice from experts or seasoned individuals on various topics, ranging from well-being and parenting to personal finance and home-building.
They are also spaces where the experiences and reviews of members intertwine to create a library of valuable knowledge in the form of special interest forums, online group classes and research-focused communities. In fact, many virtual communities thrive on their devoted members’ contributions.
Virtual communities are also becoming engines for generating economic value. For instance, professional platforms such as LinkedIn allow individuals to showcase their expertise and find job opportunities, while e-commerce platforms like Etsy help creators monetize handmade or digital products to reach a global clientele. On the other hand, freelancer networks such as Upwork offer opportunities for skilled individuals to serve global clients and social platforms like Instagram offer entrepreneurs the space to cultivate their brands, engage audiences and expand their businesses.
For policymakers, the opportunity is clear: virtual communities should be recognized as flourishing arenas with immense social, cultural and economic value. To maximize their multifaceted benefits, while mitigating their risks, several policy avenues should be considered.
Primarily, policymakers should recognize the evolving prominence and influence of virtual communities in shaping public behaviors and perceptions. This influence on how societies learn, create and collaborate is expected to grow even more intensely.
From a policy perspective, virtual communities can serve as a valuable partner, as their activities frequently intersect with government priorities such as public health, lifelong learning, employment and skills development, environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment. Policymakers can harness such platforms to bolster policy outcomes by delivering important awareness programs, promoting key public services and amplifying positive practices among their target audiences.

Governments could consider supporting digital platforms that prioritize community-driven interests through grants or innovation funds.

Sara Al-Mulla

To achieve that, digital inclusion should be prioritized as, without equitable access to digital infrastructure, marginalized groups may remain excluded from the opportunities that virtual communities can offer. Policy interventions should therefore focus on expanding universal connectivity and establishing public Wi-Fi hubs. Additionally, digital inclusion should include comprehensive digital literacy programs to equip communities with the skills needed to navigate online platforms safely and responsibly.
Educational programs focusing on these skills could also be rolled out within school curricula. Moreover, it would be advantageous to provide specialized training programs for the leaders and users of virtual communities on content creation, audience engagement and discussion management.
Another critical aspect is safeguarding the safety and accountability of virtual communities. It is critical to work closely with tech companies to develop sound guidelines on platform accountability and content moderation, in addition to establishing clear channels for the reporting of harmful content, cyberbullying and misinformation. Policymakers could also work with active leaders and members of virtual communities to ensure adherence to safety measures, while also helping to deliver important awareness building on issues tied to the government’s priorities, such as early childhood development or mental health.
Closely linked is the need for robust legislation on cyberbullying, misinformation and data protection. Members of virtual communities must have confidence that their personal information is secure and responsibly managed by digital platforms. Therefore, comprehensive data protection legislation should address issues tied to consent requirements, transparency in data collection and usage, clear accountability mechanisms for platforms that manage community interactions, and dispelling misinformation and fake news. This is especially important to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable groups, such as children.
Governments could also consider supporting digital platforms that prioritize community-driven interests through grants or innovation funds. For instance, public awareness campaigns could make regular appearances on relevant virtual communities to achieve policy outcomes. Furthermore, policy accelerator labs that co-design services in partnership with virtual communities may glean many useful insights that could be channeled toward crafting more responsive policies.
All in all, virtual communities can play a transformative role in building more connected, innovative and productive societies. By investing in training, inclusion, safety and innovation, policymakers can harness their many valuable social and economic contributions.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.