The rapid growth of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) gave rise to various platforms such as Metaverse. One of the most-anticipated games in the metaverse was Horizon World. Yet, this advancement in technology came with the rise of crimes in the metaverse. In turn, this incident drew attention and gave rise to sexual crimes in Virtual Reality spaces.

Recently, many cases of sexual assaults were reported on the platform. As a ripple effect, the incidents brought global widespread concern. Thus, Real Research conducted a survey seeking respondents’ views and awareness about sexual crimes in Virtual Reality. Here are the results.

Highlights

  • 70.32% are aware of the sexual assaults on ‘Horizon World’
  • 69.29% say it is ‘essential’ to take action if any sexual crime occurs in virtual worlds
  • Over 54% will continue using virtual reality despite sexual crimes

News of Sexual Assaults on Metaverse Platform Horizon World

virtual reality
Figure 1: Many are aware of sexual crimes in virtual reality

82.72% of respondents are aware of ‘Horizon World’, a metaverse platform operated by Meta. In addition, 70.32% are aware of the sexual assaults in Horizon World. Accordingly, the survey asked what kind of sexual assaults respondents have witnessed or experienced.

In response, 40.24% say ‘Dry Humping,’ 14.67% say ‘sexual assaults’, and 8.90% say ‘Dirty Talk’. Moreover, 5.85% say ‘Touching’. However, 24.02% have neither witnessed nor experienced sexual harassment in the metaverse.

How To Take Action Against Sexual Crimes in Virtual Worlds

The respondents were also asked whether they believe sexual crime in virtual worlds is different from such crimes in reality. To this, the majority (42.34%) say ‘it is the same’, while 19.78% feel ‘it is different’. Furthermore, 12% feel it ‘alike’, while 25.90% are ‘unsure’.

Furthermore, on asking whether respondents feel it essential to take action if sexual crimes occur in virtual reality, the majority (69.29%) say it is ‘essential’. In contrast, 30.71% feel that it is ‘non-essential’.

sexual assault
Figure 2: The majority say it is necessary to take action against sexual assault

Adding to this, the survey asked respondents why they think it is essential to take action. Om response, 65.30% say ‘it is very likely similar real-world crimes will occur if artificial technology advances’.

Whereas 17.92% say ‘victims will be mortified and experience trauma’. Moreover, 8.62% say ‘key users are the young generation, exposure can be dangerous’, and 7.76% feel it is essential to be ‘preventative’.

Next, the survey asks what kind of actions should be taken against sexual crimes in Virtual Reality. Almost half (50.22%) suggest keeping posting announcements of guidelines on the platform.

Meanwhile, 19.57% suggest suspending the offender’s account or deactivating it for good. Lastly, 9.11% suggest deleting the offender’s account without exception and 7.32% say ‘taking legal action’.

Reasons Behind Not Taking Any Action Against These Crimes

taking action is not essential
Figure 3: reasons for why taking action is not essential

Following after, the survey asks respondents why they think it would not be essential to take action. The majority (52.85%) feel that the platform is ‘patronized to overcome the limitations in reality through metaverse’. Meanwhile, 21.31% believe this is a way today’s generation has fun, whereas 20.89% say it is a space for individuals to express themselves freely.

To conclude, the survey asks whether respondents will continue to use these platforms in the future, despite the sexual crimes in Virtual Reality. More than half (54.11%) will continue using, while 17.82% will use for a while and stop. Then 15.05% will supposedly follow their peers and 13.03% will stop using immediately.

Methodology

 
Survey TitlePublic Opinion on Sexual Crimes in Virtual Reality
DurationFebruary 09 – February 16, 2022
Number of Participants20,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.