What term does Rheingold (2000) use to describe social groups that form online when many individuals engage in extended, emotionally meaningful public conversations, creating networks of personal connections?

Explanation

Rheingold (2000) refers to 'virtual communities' as social groups that develop on the internet when people participate in ongoing, emotionally rich discussions, resulting in interconnected personal relationships. This concept differs from 'cyberspace' (a broad term for the virtual environment), the 'worldwide web' (the system of interlinked web pages), and 'chatrooms' (specific online spaces for real-time text communication).