In Horizon Worlds, up to 20 avatars can get together at a time to explore, hang out, and build within the virtual space.
According to Meta, on November 26, a beta tester reported something deeply troubling: she had been groped by a stranger on Horizon Worlds.
Meta’s internal review of the incident found that the beta tester should have used a tool called “Safe Zone” that’s part of a suite of safety features built into Horizon Worlds.
“It’s part of the reason why emotional reactions can be stronger in that space, and why VR triggers the same internal nervous system and psychological responses.” That was true in the case of the woman who was groped on Horizon Worlds.
According to The Verge, her post read: “Sexual harassment is no joke on the regular internet, but being in VR adds another layer that makes the event more intense. Not only was I groped last night, but there were other people there who supported this behavior which made me feel isolated in the Plaza.” Sexual assault and harassment in virtual worlds is not new, nor is it realistic to expect a world in which these issues will completely disappear.
The real problem, perhaps, has to do with the perception that when you play a game or participate in a virtual world, there’s what Stanton describes as a “Contract between developer and player.” “As a player, I’m agreeing to being able to do what I want in the developer’s world according to their rules,” he says.
“We will continue to improve our UI and to better understand how people use our tools so that users are able to report things easily and reliably. Our goal is to make Horizon Worlds safe, and we are committed to doing that work.” Milian said that users must undergo an onboarding process prior to joining Horizon Worlds that teaches them how to launch Safe Zone.
Source : The metaverse has a groping problem already(MIT Technology Review)
