Virtual reality (VR) holds out the promise of new worlds of creativity, learning, and connection. But with the excitement comes an unsettling reality: harassment in VR feels as real as it does in real life.
Picture yourself logging into a virtual world. Your body isn’t present there no skin, no touch, no smell. And yet someone leans in a bit too close. Their avatar glares. A hand extends toward your face. You recoil. You feel violated. Even though there’s no physical contact, your brain processes it as if it’s occurring in real life.
This isn’t science fiction. This is occurring right now with immersive technology.
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Why VR Harassment Hits Harder
Researchers at Clemson University, guided by Guo Freeman, looked into just this question. Conducting rigorous interviews with individuals who had experienced harassment in VR, they found something compelling:
VR harassment isn’t “just virtual.” It feels real because of psychological presence.
When you’re in VR, your brain doesn’t merely perceive a screen, it’s embodied. With head tracking, 3D audio, and first-person view, your senses convince you that you’re “there.” Psychologists refer to this as place illusion and plausibility.
It is for this reason that unwanted proximity, threatening glares, or being stalked in VR elicits the same unease you’d experience in an actual crowd. Your headset is plastic, but your brain interprets it as reality.
As one interviewee explained: “It felt like it was in my face.”
The Unseen Layer of Social Bias in VR
Yet another surprising result was that virtual worlds don’t eliminate discrimination they tend to reinforce it.
Players from marginalized groups reported that harassment in VR replicated the real-world biases that they already experience. Some were harassed based on how their avatars appeared, what clothes they were wearing, accent, or even perceived gender or sexuality.
That is, VR doesn’t provide a safe haven. Rather, it can replicate the same social exclusions and power dynamics that occur offline in even more intrusive manners.
Why Current Safety Tools Aren’t Enough
Most VR platforms emphasize the following safety measures:
- Bubbles for personal space (keeping avatars from being too close)
- Mute and block
- Safe zones where there can be no interaction
Though these tools are important, the Clemson study reveals they’re overlooking the underlying issue: harassment in VR isn’t just a behavioral concern, it’s also a perceptual issue.
Even mild gestures, scripted conversations, or extended glances can feel threatening due to how the mind processes presence. A safety bubble won’t be able to wholly stop the psychological discomfort of unwanted intrusion.
Rethinking VR: Building “Presence Ethics”
Virtual reality harassment is more than a virtual echo of online abuse. It’s a new entity formed by embodiment and immersion. When people feel “present” in an environment, they act differently. Anonymity, different inhibitions, and diminished boundaries all come into play.
If VR is going to live up to its potential for education, empathy, connection, and creativity, it needs to tackle these dangers. That requires:
- Creating ethical interaction models for immersive environments
- Prioritizing reporting and accountability systems
- Appreciating how presence magnifies vulnerability
Above all, VR requires a new idea: presence ethics. If we’re inviting individuals into new realities, we need to make those environments safe, inclusive, and respectful.
Final Thoughts
Virtual reality is not a game or a device, it’s an extension of what it means to be human. And when harassment occurs there, it doesn’t feel “virtual” to us at all. It feels embodied, personal, and real.
The future of VR isn’t just about improved graphics or more sophisticated headsets, but about designing for dignity, respect, and safety in immersive spaces.
Because entering into new worlds should be freedom, not fear.