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.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual area is associated with a graphical user interface for rendering the content item on the client network nodes of the communicants who are present in the virtual area, and at least one mode of realtime communication that is supported by the client network nodes of co-present ones of the communicants in the virtual area.