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Many individuals are seeking community through the Internet. Virtual community brings with it a range of advantages and disadvantages. Unlike other forms of communication, the Internet allows users to transcend some of the traditional limitations offline communication. Online communities can be composed of members spread across the globe who can meet and communicate in individual or group situations in real-time despite their distance. As well, virtual communities are giving people the chance to meet others who would otherwise be inaccessible. Communities in cyberspace are also meeting the needs of individuals for whom traditional community has not worked or been a viable option. In her study, What Makes the Internet Addictive: Potential Explanations for Pathological Internet Use, Kimberly S. Young of the University of Pittsburgh, breaks down the needs that internet communities can meet into five categories: social support, sexual fulfillment, creating a persona, unlocking personality, and recognition and power.

Social Support
Regular CMC with between people for an extended period of time can lead to a social support network A deep sense of intimacy can quickly be created through CMC because of the immediacy of information and the often straight forward questions asked CMC fulfils needs in people whose real lives are interpersonally impoverished People feel free to express their opinions without fear of rejection, confrontation, or judgment
Sexual Fulfillment
CMC is an anonymous way to explore sexuality in ways that would usually be forbidden or inaccessible Fear of diseases like HIV are removed and there are fewer repercussions Some people find it easier to "pick-up" another person on the Internet than in "real life"
Unlocked Personalities
CMC gives people a chance to see what it would be like to be someone else with a different age, gender, role, etc. The mind is allowed to take a mental vacation from the stress and demands of the roles we play in real life
Creating a Persona
CMC is an outlet for people to experiment with or "unlock" different aspects of their personality It can act as an emotional release where and individual can act out destructive behaviors [e.g. by slaying dragons in Multi-User Dungeons (MUD)] without negative repercussions
Recognition and Power
Recognition and power that has not been gained in offline experiences can be found in online situations, especially with MUDs, like Ultima Online During CMC an individual can have a higher self esteem based on their virtual personality and accomplishments

While Virtual communities are meeting the needs of many people, others are finding that along with the advantages of being a part of an online community there are also disadvantages. Some of the problems associated with virtual communities include compartmentalizing and addiction.

People tend to divide their lives and identities into online and offline sections. This split in not always a bad thing. Online groups can connect people with similar interests who would never have the chance to meet in offline situations. Also, spending time online, apart from the stresses of daily life can be relaxing. In his articleBringing Online and Offline Living Together: The Integration PrincipleDr. John Suler had this to say about compartmentalization:

As a general rule, the integrating of online and offline living and of the various sectors of one's internet activities is a good idea. Why? Integration - like commerce - creates synergy. It leads to development and prosperity. Both sides of the trade are enriched by the exchange. If the goal of life is to know thyself, as Socrates suggested, then it must entail knowing how the various elements of thyself fit together to make that Big Self that is you. Reaching that goal also means understanding and taking down the barriers between the sectors of self. Barriers are erected out of the need to protect, out of fear. Those anxieties too are a component of one's identity. They need to be reclaimed, tamed. . .It's interesting to note that "internet addiction" - or, for that matter, any kind of addiction - entails an isolating and guarding of the compulsive activity against all other aspects of one's life. Overcoming the addiction means releasing and mastering the needs and anxieties that have been locked into the habit. It means reclaiming the isolated self back into the mainstream of one's identity.

To live a more integrated online and offline lives Suler suggests telling offline companions about one's online life, telling offline companions about one's online life, meeting online companions offline, meeting offline companions online, bringing online behavior offline, and bringing offline behavior online

Internet use can be addictive and it can have damaging effects on an individual's relationships, work, and schooling. In Young's study, she found that chat rooms and Multi-User Dungeons (MUD) were the two most common types of Internet applications used by people with Internet addictions, accounting for 35% and 28% respectively of internet addictions. MUDs are spin offs of the old Dungeon and Dragons games, like Ultima Online, where players take on character roles. Young found that 90% of those who were addicted to the Internet primarily used two way communication applications like chat rooms, MUDs, news groups, or e-mail, all of which are community orientated applications. Below are some questions that point out typical warning signs of internet addiction.

Are you neglecting important things in your life because of this behavior?

Is this behavior disrupting your relationships with important people in your life?

Do important people in your life get annoyed or disappointed with you about this behavior?

Do you get defensive or irritable when people criticize this behavior?

Have you ever tried to cut down, but were unable to?

Do you ever feel guilty or anxious about what you are doing?

Have you ever found yourself being secretive about or trying to "cover up" this behavior?

If you were honest with yourself, do you feel there is a another hidden need that drives this behavior?