[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”custom-post-title” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|600|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#dd1881″ header_font_size=”44px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”intro-wrap” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Abel||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Being immersed in VR is supposed to be fun, but how safe is it? Closer speaks to one woman whose experience left her traumatised\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-1359718280-e1709307060202.jpg” title_text=”Woman with virtual reality headset sitting at desk at home” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”custom-gallery-caption” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#111111″ text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-2.75%||||false|false” custom_padding=”4px|8px|4px|8px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Virtual realities can feel real\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
When a new metaverse was launched called Horizon Venues, psychotherapist Nina Patel was keen to try it.
The owner of a company which teaches adults and children about safety in the metaverse, Nina was well versed in trying out VR worlds. But when she logged on, she was quickly approached by a gang who sexually harassed and assaulted her avatar.
Nina, 45, says, \u201cI know it wasn\u2019t a real-world assault, but it was a traumatic experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
In December 2021, Nina was alone at her home in London, waiting for her children to get back from school.
Horizon Venues had just launched, which allowed friends and family to meet up virtually, and with 20 minutes to spare, Nina slipped on her VR headset.
She says, \u201cI gave my avatar blonde hair like me and put her in a long purple dress. Then I looked in the virtual mirror and waved my arms to test it. When I moved, my avatar moved, and it was even able to match my facial expressions, which is called embodiment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then she went to a portal which beamed her to a space where there were other avatars. There were several rooms to choose from, each with a different activity like playing basketball or going to a concert. Nina says, \u201cWhile I was looking around at what was on offer, three male avatars suddenly approached me and used sexually aggressive language. They said things like \u2018We\u2019ll give you what you want,\u2019 and before I knew it, they were surrounding me. One of them reached out and put their hands on my avatar\u2019s breasts, while another one put a hand over my mouth. They were smiling and I could hear a voice behind me, but I couldn\u2019t see what they were doing. I yelled at them to stop and to get off, but they ignored me. I managed to get away, but they ran after me and got me cornered.\u201d<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-1426593995.jpg” title_text=”Asian woman working from home late at night using smartphone and computer” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”custom-gallery-caption” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#111111″ text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-2.75%||||false|false” custom_padding=”4px|8px|4px|8px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Nina had a harrowing experience\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Nina\u2019s experience, shockingly, wasn\u2019t unique, as instances of sexual harassment in virtual spaces have been reported by 49 per cent of female users.
She says, \u201cWhile they all continued touching me, a fourth male came towards us and showed me some photos he\u2019d taken of the attack. It meant the person behind the avatar was taking screenshots of it. Then the one in front started doing a thrusting motion against my avatar, mimicking sex, and said \u2018Don\u2019t pretend you\u2019re not enjoying it.\u2019 When I realised they weren\u2019t going to stop, I ripped my VR headset off.
\u201cThey\u2019d approached me within 60 seconds of going in and it all happened so quickly, that afterwards I was confused and bewildered. When I took my headset off I thought \u2018What just happened?\u2019 I was flush and my heart was racing. There was no doubt in my mind that my avatar had been sexually assaulted and I immediately blamed myself, wondering if I\u2019d somehow provoked them. Because I froze during it, I felt ashamed that I hadn\u2019t done more to stop them. I burst into tears.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought about how I\u2019d feel if it had happened to any of my kids and I knew I had to go public. I realised my attackers must\u2019ve planned it,\u201d says Nina.
Tomer Poran from software development company ActiveFence tells Closer, \u201cDetecting harms, especially ones generated by bad-actors that come to a platform with the intent of doing harm, is a difficult task which platforms big and small have struggled with for over a decade for a variety of reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-1362058676.jpg” title_text=”Italy, Woman with VR goggles sitting on wall in city” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”custom-gallery-caption” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color=”#111111″ text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-2.75%||||false|false” custom_padding=”4px|8px|4px|8px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Women and children are at risk\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
When Nina spoke out, Horizon Venues, which became Horizon Worlds, implemented a change. \u201cThey added an optional Personal Boundary feature, so that strangers can\u2019t get within four feet of your avatar. But even if that had been an option for me, I wouldn\u2019t have had time to turn it on before I was attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nina says, \u201cSome people take advantage of their anonymity in the metaverse to commit crimes without facing repercussions, and in some spaces being aggressive or violent is even rewarded. I\u2019ve since read about a teenage girl who was raped in the metaverse and reported it to the police, though it never crossed my mind to do that. But my experience did traumatise me, to the point where I now only go into virtual spaces where I can be in a private world with friends and family. People saying things like \u2018Why didn\u2019t you just turn your headset off?\u2019 doesn\u2019t address the real issue, which is that there aren\u2019t enough safety measures in place to prevent assaults happening in the metaverse, particularly to women and children. Studies show that when a traumatic event happens in a virtual reality, the body experiences the same physiological effects as if it were real.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe metaverse is supposed to be an enjoyable immersive experience, and for most people it is, but companies should have a responsibility to look after their users,\u201d she says. \u201cEven before my assault, my company gave educational workshops in schools about how to be safe in the metaverse, but now that message is more personal. My ordeal has spurred me on to raise even more awareness and try to prevent people going through what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ divider_weight=”2px” module_class=”custom-divider” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text module_class=”credit-texts” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Aboreto|||on|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
PHOTOS: GETTY<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”flatplan-readmore” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#111111″ custom_padding=”35px||35px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”85%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ module_class=”read-more-item” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”85%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/Thumbnailtgqq.jpg” title_text=”Thumbnailtgqq” module_class=”read-more-thumbnail” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”read-more-headline” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”16px” link_option_url=”https:\/\/apple.news\/ABgCYwvfNTKq0ormaQsj7Kw ” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Meghan and Harry\u2019s last resort ‘therapy’<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ module_class=”read-more-item” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”85%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/flatplan-plus-content.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/bwbnewn.jpg” title_text=”bwbnewn” module_class=”read-more-thumbnail” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”read-more-headline” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”16px” link_option_url=”https:\/\/apple.news\/A0bBtVJeIRiSYmqM4nlVh6g” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The sexy secrets behind Sofia Vergara\u2019s dirty divorce<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being immersed in VR is supposed to be fun, but how safe is it? Closer speaks to one woman whose experience left her traumatised\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-life"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"closermag","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2244"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2254,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions\/2254"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/closer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Read more from Closer<\/h3>\n