Virtual reality is indeed the platform for future social media. It will fully emerge in the market sooner or later. But before jumping aboard this seemingly utopian world, we need to inspect the potential harms and benefits of social VR, because VR is much more complex compared to traditional social media. It replicates (or even makes better) the real world in an immersive realization. And our lives today are already big jumbles of infinite complications.
So, does VR have the potential to make lives better? Yes it does. Ever heard of Stan World? This is the definitive platform that will minimize drawbacks and maximize benefits of social VR, discussed below.
Let’s first go over the potential drawbacks of social VR.
Cost:
- Arguably the main concern surrounding VR itself. Users who cannot afford VR headsets may be left out of the social world.
- However, headsets are becoming increasingly affordable. Remember Oculus Rift when it first launched for $600? Now it’s $400. The more affordable Oculus Go retails for $200, while maintaining most features found in Rift. Also, the Go does not require a PC.
Harassment & abuse from other users:
- The main concern surrounding social VR. Because social VR will be in real time (in most cases), users will be prone to harassment from strangers.
- Security tools are in development. For example, a “Pause” will stop an action, and a “Mute” will make an avatar disappear completely (FastCompany).
- Harassment and abuse exist virtually everywhere on the internet, let alone social networks. This isn’t a peculiar problem in just social VR.
Addiction:
- Users may become heavily reliant on social VR.
- This is a concern for general internet usage. Anything in large doses can become addictive, and to state that VR is more addictive than other platforms is illogical.
Now let’s look at the benefits.
Realistic experience:
- Social media can now be fully realized in 3D.
- Imagine scrolling through a social media page in 3D, where you visit friends’ homes and watch viral videos together, then go shopping at a virtual marketplace from which you get deliveries made to the front door of your real home. Wouldn’t that be something?
Connects people effectively:
- VR is all about the “tangible experience.” Because VR is more realistic than traditional social media is, it is also more realistic in connecting people.
- We always crave for something more palpable and concrete than a 2D screen.
Helps form relationships based on interests:
- This is the key aspect of social VR. Because VR connects people better than traditional social media does, users will now be limitless in reaching out to people with similar interests.
- General location and proximity will no longer be a hindering factor in realistic interaction among users.
As a recap, there is no wrong answer as to whether social VR will be good or bad, but there are numerous benefits that can overshadow the drawbacks.
Now, there is one more thing to how social VR can be beneficial. The key lies in the users. Because the concept of “social VR” has not yet fully developed, it will rely much on the feedback from its users. User feedback will be the most influential factor in the development of social VR, and this is what makes it so exciting.
No technology is ever perfect. But the users can, and will, make a positive impact. Just like how any other social or technological platform developed throughout the years to make better the users’ experience, social VR will blossom from much of the same, if not more, voices from the user base. Anyone, including you, can contribute in creating the virtual utopia.
Stan World is the next-gen social VR platform that users, as citizens, can help grow and mature. Be anyone you want to be. Go anywhere you want to explore. Apply now.
