The concept of online communities has been around since the inception of the internet. It is built around the democratic principle of virtual collaboration, decision-making, and fostering meaningful relationships to achieve a common goal.
For organizations, building communities is essential for determining the pulse of their members and facilitating change and growth. Now that commercial enterprises have entered the online world, creating and maintaining these communities have become a crucial aspect of business success.
However, there are various challenges in sustaining an online community. Most companies today realize the importance of AI content moderation services in overcoming these obstacles. But why AI? Read on to find out!
What Are Online Communities?
First, let’s define what an online community is.
In one way or another, you’ve already been a part of a virtual community. Whether you’re part of a Facebook group or a fan community on Reddit, as long as it is a group of people with shared interests and goals, it is considered an online community. These groups communicate through a common platform, which upholds specific rules and standards.
In an online community, members can freely discuss and share their knowledge about certain topics, from music and movies to professions and social issues. Due to the variety of topics of people across the world, different types of online communities are formed.
The 8 main types of online communities include the following:
- Brand Communities: These are built around a brand or business to foster engagement and loyalty through user-generated content (UGC).
- Learning Communities: These bring different learners into one collaborative space to ask questions, discuss concepts, have healthy debates, and receive feedback from fellow students.
- Networking Communities: They are focused on helping members find opportunities to expand their network, mainly for professional growth.
- Social Communities: In these groups, people come together to chat, hang out, and share their experiences, usually on social media platforms.
- Fan Communities: This is another specific type of virtual community formed based on common interests, such as music, movies, books, or TV shows.
- Membership Communities: People also sign up for membership communities to get exclusive content from a content creator or have access to premium offerings by a brand.
- Communities of Action: These are volunteer groups or non-profit organizations committed to a single cause that could benefit vulnerable people or change society for the better.
- Support Communities: These offer individuals a chance to connect with people with similar personal experiences or circumstances and provide medical, emotional, or other forms of support.
Importance of Establishing Online Communities for Platforms
For organizations, companies, and businesses, online communities are a valuable resource. Here’s why:
- Improved Engagement and Transparency
Online communities empower users to have open discussions, provide feedback, and get involved with a brand. With an active community, companies can reach audiences who can be new participants and brand advocates.
Additionally, having a good relationship with a group of people supporting your platform promotes transparency. It sends a message that you listen to the voice of your followers.
- Provide Invaluable Data for Growth
Interactions among community members generate invaluable data that can help platforms understand what needs to be improved. Do you need to add more accessible features to your site? Do you need to develop your product’s functionality?
With all that information, brands can offer more personalized user experiences and elevate their services.
- Reduce Costs on Marketing and Support Services
Online communities are like unpaid marketers who produce UGC to give feedback and promote the brand. They can write lengthy reviews or post images and videos of them using their products.
Moreover, community members also serve as free customer support. They answer queries, offer solutions, and troubleshoot issues to help other users with their concerns.
Challenges in Maintaining Online Communities
Online communities are tied to the brand they support, which can pose some challenges to managing digital platforms. While they can be meaningful, fun, and engaging, they can also get a bit chaotic.
Here are some common challenges in maintaining online communities:
- Risk of Harmful Content
An online community is composed of different types of people with varying personalities and cultural backgrounds. Due to these differences, it’s natural for members to occasionally get into arguments and conflicts. However, when these disputes involve offensive statements, insults, and intimidation, the comfort and safety of others are compromised.
Similarly, when users share inappropriate images and videos on the group, the platform could potentially experience a drop in engagement. Members would fear for their own well-being since the platform doesn’t bother restricting what can and can’t be posted.
- Trolls and Misinformation
Online communities can be infiltrated by trolls that could bully other members or instigate any kind of trouble. They can also encourage or “bait” other people to join the provocation and spark an emotional reaction from the victims.
Some accounts may also join the community to spread misinformation about a certain topic or issue. This could again stir up conflict and cause unwanted consequences for the brand.
- Inactive or Suspicious Accounts
Some members rarely participate in group discussions which hinders them from benefitting the benefits of active community involvement. Others may grow suspicious of them and question their intentions for joining the group.
While others are just natural wallflowers, there could be members with hidden or malicious purposes. They may be getting sensitive information from specific people or user interactions.
Overcoming Barriers Through AI Content Moderation Services
When platforms invest in AI content moderation services, they can automatically detect, filter, and remove unwanted content within online communities that could harm their brand.
An AI content moderation company understands the need for real-time monitoring of published content on all channels where online communities thrive. They leverage AI technologies to aid human moderators in eliminating harmful content, capturing trolls, and preventing misinformation to keep these spaces safe.
Through these services, community guidelines can be enforced strictly, and depending on the severity of the violations, users can be warned or completely banned from the platform. With AI content moderation, it’s possible to identify non-compliant posts and remove them before being viewed by other members.
Ensuring Safe Digital Spaces: The Future of Online Communities
AI content moderation services are vital in protecting the integrity and safety of online communities. By efficiently filtering harmful content and promoting positive engagement, these technologies help create a secure and inclusive environment, fostering trust and growth in digital environments.
