A number of facilities are made available on these Web sites, including chat rooms, free posting areas, TV streaming areas, blogs and more. It is a step up from the stand-alone chat room or blog in that it offers more interactivity -- this is really a facility to post personal pictures, information, film clips and instant messaging services.

These Web sites were designed as a virtual environment, where people with similar interests can instantly message, share information and socialize. They do prescribe to a certain level of control and regulation as browsers wishing to become part of the community are obliged to register their details. However, the principal concept of a virtual community is, by and large, open to abuse, and not all Web sites are safe.