As a gen-y kid, it is impossible to ignore the importance of social-networking. Our online persona defines us, and by a very large extent, shapes who we are. We all know (or live in) the success of Facebook, currently the world’s largest online community with an army of 800 million users. While Facebook’s dominance is incontestable and indefinitely surging, we all know the basic rule to life: everything that goes up must come down. Though the future of Facebook is hard to predict, sites like MySpace and Friendster have proven the legitimacy of this theory, losing the battle against Facebook’s puissance. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to the wonderful days we had with them, just like how we cannot forget the contributions of The WELL, one of the oldest and most influential virtual communities still in operation today.
The Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link, more commonly known as The WELL, was founded in 1985 by Lary Brilliant and Stewart Brand. The website is essentially an online community that allows its members around the world to get “access to tools and ideas.” The website facilitates interactions and discussions through web forums, emails and personal webpages, very much like Facebook today. The WELL’s online forums, better known as conferences, allow online communities to engage in private or public discussions, offer personal opinions and express interests in certain topics. The conferences are grouped by subjects, and one can easily gain access to a specific kind of discussion by navigating around the forum. Conferences were first of their kind, and it is often dubbed “the heart of The WELL.”
If you want a clearer picture, be sure check this out the conference page itself.
CLICK HERE!
However, if you want to see the actual discussions, you have to create an account for yourself (and by the way, these accounts are not free.)
Allow me to sidetrack a little, as I am rather puzzled at why The WELL would charge its users $10 a month for their accounts. There are so many free alternatives out there, like Gaia Online, DeviantArt, and IMBd, etc. These websites target specific audiences with similar interests and provide their basic services free of charge. I know The WELL is ad-free but I’m not sure if this is a wise move for an online business. I guess the current business model of the website explains why the community has only 4,000 members today, a relatively small number for a virtual community that has been around for almost 27 years.
Another key feature of The WELL is its member pages. Think of this as the pioneer model for social-networking profiles. Users can post up photos, personal information, contact numbers and design the pages according to their own tastes. If they wish, they may also turn their member pages into blogs. Today, most members use their pages as a means of advertising or promoting their companies or causes.
Some examples of existing member pages:
Although The WELL has lost its appeal to general netizens today, it is important to learn about its importance and how it revolutionised virtual communities. Being one of the pioneering social-networking sites, The WELL has left a legacy one simply cannot overlook.
If you want to learn more about The WELL, here is an interview BBC had with Stewart Brand, one of the founders of website.
PS: Did you know that the term “virtual community” was coined by social commenter Howard Rheingold after he explored with The WELL?
Posted by Skyler Wang (42814111).