2024-01-24 09:00:44
We often hear regarding the positive contributions of immersive reality in the field of human health, its endless possibilities for the future… Unfortunately, today we are going to explore the mental health problems it presents. While the technology provides a highly immersive experience for users, the recent emergence of the new term “VR rape” on social media has been the center of attention, highlighting the security risks associated with VR. The emerging term “virtual rape” is clearly a novel concept that confuses most people. Recently, a disturbing incident occurred in the United Kingdom when a 16-year-old girl was raped by a group of “grown men” in a virtual world avatar. This investigation into virtual sexual crimes has been the subject of controversy around the world. It has raised concerns regarding criminal behavior in virtual environments and prompted society to think deeply regarding how to circumvent the potential pitfalls of immersive realities.
Potential Mental Health Challenges
Psychological trauma
British police described the trauma suffered by the victim as the equivalent of a physical assault and highlighted the power of virtual experiences on mental health. The psychological impact of a virtual attack can be just as devastating as a real-world attack. Insecurity, fear, and emotional trauma can linger and affect a person’s daily life. Prolonged use of VR can sometimes blur the line between the virtual world and reality, affecting how quickly a person can react to what is happening in the real world. Virtual worlds also risk increasing anxiety and depression, especially when some people play scary or high-pressure games for a long time.
Escape and addiction
The charm of immersive reality lies in its ability to take us into a world completely disconnected from reality, a world where we can all create and where everything can be perfect. However, an over-reliance on immersive reality as a means of escape can have a detrimental effect on our mental health. The practice of using VR to deliberately immerse oneself in a virtual experience while ignoring real-world responsibilities does not help the individual’s development, and it may also affect their ability to cope with problems.
Social isolation
While immersive reality can create a virtual social experience, it can also lead to isolation in the real world. When a person spends a lot of time in the virtual world, they risk becoming disconnected from the real world. The balance between the real world and the virtual world continues to be a great challenge for young people, especially adolescents.
Debate Ethics
Virtual universes offer a new virtual form of escape. Not only can we create a perfect avatar in our mind in a virtual world, but in a way we are bypassing the laws of reality. At the same time, virtual worlds present a number of complex issues, particularly when it comes to dealing with cases such as “virtual rape”. The complexity of this situation lies in the fact that the victim does not suffer physical damage, but rather mental sexual assault, similar to other forms of cyberviolence. However, this is undeniably an inexcusable act. This incident highlights the decline of moral boundaries in the virtual realm. The development of the metaverse has opened new avenues for cybercrime, including virtual theft and fraud. We need to think regarding how to protect our personal interests in a world where the boundaries between the virtual and the real are blurred. Current regulations struggle to cover the complex issues that occur in the virtual universe. It therefore becomes necessary to discuss the need for legislative reform of the virtual world. When formulating regulations, we should take into account the ethical and moral standards of the virtual environment to better circumvent these offenses. Legislation must be developed in parallel with technological developments to ensure that it can respond effectively to the new challenges of virtual worlds.
Responsibility of Virtual Platforms
Studies have shown that Generation X, Y and Z consumers are expected to spend four to five hours per day in virtual worlds over the next five years. With the rise of metaverses, tech companies must do more to protect their users, especially younger ones, to avoid a devastating impact on victims. This virtual crime is not the first of its kind, as Horizon Worlds, a metaverse social networking platform, has already experienced several virtual sexual assaults. The risks associated with the virtual world continue to grow, with some describing it as a breeding ground for sexual predators. That’s why platforms like Horizon Worlds have taken steps like developing a “personal space” that sets a two-foot private boundary for each avatar.
Tech companies can provide users with a more secure virtual experience by ensuring they can fully enjoy their journey through the metaverse without suffering potential harm:
- User well-being:
Developers must prioritize user well-being when designing immersive reality experiences. To do this, they must incorporate features that promote rest, provide positive cues and allow for customization options. Importantly, rather than encouraging excessive use or addictive behaviors, technology companies should promote an attitude of responsible use and ensure that users are able to maintain a balance in the virtual environment.
- Content moderation
A robust content review mechanism is essential to ensure the security of immersive experiences. Companies should form specific teams to review content. Their mission will be to regularly update the guidelines to ensure that virtual environments do not contain malicious content. This might include actions such as removing harmful content and warning those at fault. The goal is to maintain a secure and positive user experience.
- Privacy and data security
User privacy and data security should be very important issues in the use of immersive reality platforms. Companies must ensure that they obtain informed consent from users for data collection and that they treat user information securely and responsibly.
- User education
Immersive reality platforms must provide users with clear guidelines for responsible and healthy use. And users need to understand how to maintain a balanced relationship with these technologies and avoid usage behaviors that can have negative consequences.
This brutal incident highlights the urgent need to rethink our approach to cybersecurity, mental health and metadata regulation. By improving digital education, making appropriate legal reforms and strengthening support for victims, we can create a safer and more respectful online environment for everyone. What we all hope is that technological advancements will only blur the gap between the virtual and the real, while good and evil remain distinct.
Source :
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12917329/Police-launch-investigation-kind-virtual-rape-metaverse.html
- https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/metavers-la-police-britannique-enquete-sur-le-viol-virtuel-d-une-jeune-fille-20240105
- https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-02-07-gartner-predicts-25-percent-of-people-will-spend-at-least-one-hour-per-day-in-the-metaverse-by-2026
- https://www.cryptopolitan.com/fr/etat-de-sante-mentale-realite-immersive/
- https://qz.com/people-expect-to-spend-at-least-4-hours-a-day-in-the-me-1849406012#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20indicates%20that,2022
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