Pros and Cons of Online Communities

After working on our Ethnography projects in class, and studying the behavior of different online communities, it came to my attention that the Internet can help us and yet hurt us as well. 

There are many pros to online communities that I found such as: the usual need for belonging is met; people have a place where they can go when they want to escape reality; Anyone can find a group online where they can share and talk about the same interest; and people do not have to be ashamed of an "obsession" for a particular topic that they have because there are millions of people online that can have the same interest. Online communities provide a safe and effective way for people to communicate with others outside of their everyday acquaintances and learn more from their peers about their specific interests.

HOWEVER

Online communities can have their drawbacks. It seems that online communities can become addictive, and this can be a part of the Internet Addiction epidemic.

"Some Internet users may develop an emotional attachment to on-line friends and activities they create on their computer screens. Internet users may enjoy aspects of the Internet that allow them to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas through the use of chat rooms, social networking sites, or "virtual communities." Other Internet users spend endless hours researching topics of interest online or 'blogging'"

So, even what I am doing right now is part of an online community that can become addicting to some people. Social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Snap chat can be addicting. I of course don't have that problem. I only check my social media accounts about 100 times in one hour. 

Online communities can be fun and can help people connect and branch out, but depending on how much time someone spends in this online community the results can be a bit more serious. People can spend so much time in their virtual lives that they don't focus on what is happening around them in their everyday lives. They can lose interest in other things because of these online communities that are so welcoming to them and their particular interests. It can be a dangerous game.

What do you guys think? Thoughts on online communities? Internet Addiction?