Virtual Support Groups

Last week I facilitated a roundtable discussion for some staff members at Oakton Community College about learning in support groups. It was for staff development day. While I had a small group of 4, some interesting things came out of the discussion - one in particular regarding the topic of virtual support groups. In my prior work and project, I explored the virtual dimension of an online support group. I assumed that because you were a member that it was generally a safe environment to share and discuss. Well in our discussion last week, the idea of security and privacy came up and the potential dangers of using online support groups became something we talked about as opposed to what I previously saw as a way for those who felt more comfortable using a virtual environment as a way to keep things more anonymous. This made me realize that in our prior work, we looked at the benefits of virtual support groups and not potential pitfalls or dangers. While most of these groups have some type of moderation and they request information before you join, identity (or lack thereof) can be misleading. While I still see virtual support groups as a way to access support "anytime, anywhere," I now am shifting my perspectives a bit to take into account these security and identity issues.