Virtual community
![A PLATO V terminal in 1981 displaying RankTrek application](/Images/godic/202502/19/Platovterm19815348.jpg")
![An Internet forum powered by phpBB](/Images/godic/202502/19/Phpbb_3.0_prosilver5348.png")
![An example of an IRC chat session on Xaric, a text-based client. Shown are two IRC channels and a private conversation.](/Images/godic/202502/19/Xaric_screen_shot5348.jpg")
![A party scene from Second Life in Hyrule](/Images/godic/202502/19/Party_in_Hyrule,_Second_Life,_picture_25348.png")
A virtual community is a social network of individuals who interact through specific social media, potentially crossing geographical and political boundaries in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. Some of the most pervasive virtual communities are online communities operating under social networking services.