1. A method in a network communications environment comprising a network service implemented by one or more server network nodes and supporting realtime communications between client network nodes of ones of a user and one or more other communicants in virtual areas that define respective communication contexts in the network communications environment, the method comprising by the network service: in connection with a graphical user interface presented on the client network node of the user, receiving from the client network node of the user a request to associate a content item with a new virtual area; based on the request, creating a new virtual area and associating the content item with the new virtual area; and administering one or more of the supported realtime communications between the client network nodes of respective ones of the communicants who are co-present in the new virtual area in connection with the content item, wherein the administering comprises enabling the client network nodes of the co-present ones of the communicants to jointly share the content item.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is received from a browser component of the client network node of the user based on input by the user in connection with an interface control associated with the network service and indicating selection of a content item in a document being displayed in the graphical user interface.