News
4 November, 2024
It's a virtual nightmare out there
IF YOU thought your kids were safe playing multiplayer VR games at home, think again
IF YOU thought your kids were safe playing multiplayer VR games at home, think again. Griffith University’s Dr Ausma Bernot, in collaboration with Monash University, Charles Sturt University, and the University of Technology Sydney, has delved into the emerging issue of ‘metacrime’—offences occurring within virtual reality (VR) environments.
These include harassment, grooming, and virtual assault. The metaverse is a growing virtual world where users create avatars to interact with others in 3D digital spaces. While the technology is fun and immersive, it’s raising serious concerns.
“VR headsets are becoming increasingly popular,” said Dr Bernot, “and reports of sexual harassment and assault targeting both adults and children are emerging.” A 2023 report from the Australian eSafety Commissioner estimated that 680,000 adults in Australia are already engaging with the metaverse. A UK survey conducted by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate showed that most users had faced negative experiences in virtual environments, including offensive comments, harassment, and exposure to inappropriate or explicit content.
Eleven per cent of respondents reported encountering sexually graphic virtual spaces, and 9 per cent said they had been virtually touched inappropriately. Nearly half of those surveyed reported moderate to extreme emotional distress as a result of their experiences.
Dr Bernot warns that minors, who form one of the largest user groups, are particularly vulnerable to grooming and abuse in the metaverse. She advises parents to closely monitor their children’s VR activities.
While some games offer safety features like ‘safety bubbles’, the highly immersive nature of VR can make users forget that what they’re experiencing isn’t real. “Once immersed, the experience can feel all too real,” Dr Bernot added.
Monash University’s You Zhou noted alarming cases of virtual rape, such as the ongoing UK investigation of a 16-year-old girl whose avatar was attacked, leaving her with psychological trauma similar to a physical assault. “Virtual attacks can feel just as real as physical ones, despite the lack of physical evidence,” Zhou explained.
As the metaverse expands, the research team stressed the need for VR companies to implement safety regulations to protect users from these dangers.
