My experience with VR was very limited before working on this collaborative project. I wanted to learn more about the social implications of virtual reality, this lead me to a research article by Hyun-Woo Lee, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University. The article, ‘Social Virtual Reality Involvement Affects Depression When Social Connectedness and Self-Esteem Are Low: A Moderated Mediation on Well-Being’, examines the evolution of VR and its impact on the user both psychologically and socially through multiple contingent factors present in social VR. Using a ‘moderated mediation model’ of variables (involvement, well-being, depression, self-esteem and social connectedness), 220 pieces of collected data were analysed.
Hyun-Woo Lee concluded that ‘high levels of involvement in social VR games by socially isolated users with low self-esteem can negatively affect their well-being.’ I found the variables within Lee’s findings as sound as they possibly could be to conduct such research, although a situation such as this is never without its nuance – I found Lees conclusions to be accurate.
Lee’s findings are frightening, it made me wonder – virtual reality seems to be a haven for most social isolates. VR chat is a breeding ground for deplorable behaviour and is often a hub for groomers and sex pests alike. Lee’s findings point to an Ouroboros of post-ironic suffering and coercion.