It can be a big challenge to redesign an online community. Our members visit on a regular basis, and they become accustomed to how things look and where they’re located. To the point where they can become resistant to change.

Abusive lawsuits and legal maneuvers threaten our communities and our members by silencing them under the weight of excessive litigation and costly attorney's fees.

The Washington Post received 12 million comments last year. They believe in community, in engaging with readers where they are - and in moderation.

Last week, the European Commission announced that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft had agreed to take a stronger stance on illegal hate speech.

How is building a business around an open source product, with a strong community, different from a more traditional kind of business? What expectations does the community have?

Twenty years ago, this month, Ultimate Bulletin Board was released. You may not know the name, but this early community software introduced or popularized numerous conventions that we now simply take for granted.

Treating community as a product is about the technology that powers the community. Improving it, adjusting settings, releasing updates and communicating those changes. This shows everyone involved that you are regularly progressing the user experience.

Jenna Woodul was the first chief community officer. She and Peter Friedman co-founded LiveWorld, a company offering what are now known as community management services, more than 20 years ago.

Caravan Studios builds apps that empower local communities to tackle big problems, like finding shelter for domestic abuse survivors and ensuring that kids don't go hungry.

Allison Leahy, Fitbit's director of community, is the architect of the company's 80+ member community team. After building a large private community that required login to view, she led an effort to make that community publicly viewable by all.