Rifan Muazin
By Editorial Staff
As the concept of the "Metaverse" shifts from speculative science fiction to a tangible digital reality, the social dynamics within these spaces are evolving just as rapidly. While platforms like VRChat, Rec Room, and Neos VR offer unprecedented opportunities for connection, they also present a dark side: the persistent threat of harassment.
In a proactive move to address these safety concerns, Japanese VTuber Virtual Bishojo Nem and Swiss VTuber anthropologist Mila (also known as Liudmila Bredikhina) have launched an extensive, multi-language survey aimed at quantifying the prevalence and impact of harassment within social VR environments. Supported by the Japanese NPO Virtual Rights, this initiative marks a significant step toward creating a safer, more inclusive digital frontier.
The Scope of the Initiative: Investigating the Digital Frontier
The survey, which officially opened on September 5, 2022, serves as a comprehensive diagnostic tool for the current state of social VR. By gathering factual data, the researchers hope to "visualize the reality of harassment in the Metaverse." The ultimate objective is to provide developers, platform moderators, and the community at large with the empirical evidence needed to implement better safety features.
The research project is structured to answer three primary, critical questions:
- The Prevalence of Abuse: Do users encounter harassment, and if so, what forms does it take?
- Identity and Vulnerability: How do a user’s gender identity and sexuality correlate with their safety and experience in virtual spaces?
- Coping Mechanisms and Impact: What are the psychological and social consequences of unwanted behavior, and how are users currently navigating these challenges?
The survey is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, offered in both English and Japanese. To ensure the data reflects genuine, high-frequency usage of the platforms, eligibility is restricted to those who have utilized social VR with a head-mounted display (HMD) at least five times within the past year. This threshold filters out casual observers, focusing instead on "power users" who are more likely to have meaningful experiences within these immersive environments.
Chronology of a Collaborative Effort
The partnership between Virtual Bishojo Nem and Mila is not a singular event but rather the latest iteration of a long-standing research collaboration. Both figures have established themselves as key voices in the intersection of digital identity and anthropology.
- Pre-2022 Foundations: Before turning their attention to harassment, the duo explored the sociological shifts brought about by the global pandemic. Their previous projects—"How did COVID-19 accelerate virtual communication?" and the "Social VR Lifestyle Survey"—established a methodological framework for understanding how digital avatars shape human connection.
- September 5, 2022: The official launch of the current survey. The project began collecting data from the global VR community, emphasizing anonymity and data security.
- September 8, 2022: Public announcement and outreach efforts gained momentum, with the involvement of NPO Virtual Rights providing institutional credibility to the survey.
- September 24, 2022: The scheduled conclusion of the data-gathering phase, marking the end of the input period for the project.
By maintaining a consistent research rhythm, Nem and Mila have built a longitudinal perspective on how users interact with VR, allowing them to contextualize modern issues like harassment within the broader history of social media evolution.
The Data-Driven Approach: Why It Matters
The digital world often suffers from a "transparency gap." While anecdotal evidence of harassment in VRChat and similar platforms is rampant, formal academic or industry-wide studies remain scarce. By conducting a survey that explicitly forbids the collection of personal information, the researchers have encouraged a higher degree of honesty from respondents who might otherwise fear retaliation or "doxing."
The estimated 3–7 minute duration of the survey was intentionally kept brief to ensure a high completion rate while still allowing for qualitative insights. The decision to exclude PII (Personally Identifiable Information) is a deliberate design choice, reflecting a deep understanding of the sensitivity surrounding the topic. In a space where one’s digital avatar is intrinsically linked to their social standing and mental health, privacy is not just a preference; it is a prerequisite for honest participation.
Official Responses and Industry Context
The involvement of the NPO Virtual Rights is particularly noteworthy. As an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of users in virtual spaces, their backing serves as a bridge between individual creators and the legal/regulatory frameworks governing the internet in Japan.
This initiative also highlights a shifting legal landscape. As seen in recent Japanese court rulings—where a VTuber successfully won a defamation lawsuit—the judiciary is beginning to recognize the "reality" of virtual harm. When digital avatars are subject to harassment, the emotional and psychological toll on the person behind the screen is real. The courts are slowly setting a precedent that harassment in a digital space can have tangible legal consequences in the physical world.
Implications for the Future of the Metaverse
The implications of this survey extend far beyond the data itself. If the Metaverse is to achieve mass adoption, safety must be treated as a fundamental infrastructure component, not an afterthought.
1. Shaping Platform Design
The findings from this survey could directly influence how developers design moderation tools. For instance, if the data suggests that harassment is highly gender-coded, developers might prioritize the implementation of "personal space bubbles," "block-all" features, or AI-driven moderation that flags abusive language in real-time.
2. The Role of the "Virtual Anthropologist"
The collaboration between a VTuber and an anthropologist represents a unique model for future digital research. By combining the intimate, lived experience of a virtual creator with the rigorous methodology of an academic, these projects provide a "bottom-up" view of the internet that corporate white papers often miss.
3. Community Empowerment
Perhaps the most significant outcome of this initiative is the empowerment of the user base. By participating in this survey, users are asserting their right to a safe environment. It signals to platform operators that the community is not passive—it is observant, vocal, and demanding of accountability.
The Human Cost of Virtual Interaction
It is easy to dismiss online toxicity as "part of the game," but such a mindset ignores the profound impact that persistent harassment has on marginalized communities. Virtual spaces have become a sanctuary for many individuals—particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community or those who feel alienated in physical spaces—to express their true selves through their avatars. When that sanctuary is violated by harassment, the damage is not merely digital; it is deeply personal.
The focus of the survey on how gender and sexuality impact safety acknowledges that the Metaverse is not a level playing field. Different demographics face different threats, and a one-size-fits-all approach to moderation will inevitably fail. By disaggregating the data based on identity, Nem and Mila are looking to move beyond surface-level solutions and into nuanced, intersectional safety policies.
Looking Ahead: From Data to Action
As the survey period closes and the data is analyzed, the subsequent report will likely become a cornerstone document for organizations advocating for digital rights. While the survey itself is an academic endeavor, its trajectory is clearly aligned with the broader movement to make the internet a human-centric space.
Whether through the implementation of better reporting tools, the creation of community-led moderation squads, or more robust legal protections for virtual citizens, the path forward requires a synthesis of technology and sociology. The work of Virtual Bishojo Nem and Mila serves as a timely reminder that behind every avatar is a person—and that the digital world we build should be one that reflects our best values, not our worst impulses.
As we move toward a future where we spend more of our lives in virtual spaces, the importance of this work cannot be overstated. We are currently in the "wild west" phase of the Metaverse; researchers like Nem and Mila are the cartographers, helping us map the dangers so that we may eventually pave a safer road for everyone.
For those interested in the ongoing efforts of the researchers, or to follow the progress of their findings, please refer to the official documentation and updates provided by the NPO Virtual Rights and the respective channels of the researchers involved. The results of this survey are expected to be published in a comprehensive report, which will likely be a vital resource for anyone interested in the future of digital social safety.
Dwi Wanna
Layla Zulfa
