Now, reports of sexual harassment and abuse in Meta’s Metaverse have surfaced. These tragedies point to an urgent issue of safety and moderation in the metaverse. Meta’s metaverse makes a big promise, giving users the power to “do just about anything you could possibly think of.” It has come under heavy fire, largely for its Horizon Worlds metaverse platform. Recent enforcement efforts have uncovered a shocking pattern of abuse and corruption, leading many advocates to call for emergency intervention.
Meta’s Horizon Worlds took a horrible beating from virtual reality interactions going wrong. It logged 51 accounts of such policy contraventions, many of which detailed occurrences of sexual harassment and even the grooming of minors. Alarmingly, the company didn’t recognize a single one of these reports, leaving victims on the defensive with no sense of protection or support.
This blended, immersive nature of the Metaverse has intensified the impact of virtual harassment, creating experiences that are “100 times more real.” Experts have cautioned that the deeply immersive quality of the platform has made moderation a Herculean task. Going forward, they argue that protecting users will only get harder.
Recent incidents underscore these concerns. The conclusion of a deeply disturbing British police investigation has opened the floodgates. That it includes a virtual gang-rape of a girl, below the age of 16, in the Metaverse. Additionally, there were accounts of adults soliciting young users through sexually explicit chat. One adult reportedly asked a young participant, “Do you have a cock in your mouth?” while another made an equally graphic comment: “I don’t want to cum on you.” These kinds of experiences paint a scary picture, one in which kids are not protected from harmful content and predators.
Despite only being in Horizon Worlds a few minutes, researchers were met with instances of harassment. Another woman’s avatar had been sexually assaulted within two hours of logging in. One other beta tester even described being groped in a Facebook group for the platform. These experiences reflect a broader trend: 86% of individuals aged 18 to 24 have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, highlighting that virtual environments may mirror or even amplify real-world issues.
This concern is exacerbated by shocking numbers about young people’s encounters with sexual harassment. Recent statistics showed that 79% of young people said sexual assault was a regular occurrence among their friendship circles. One in three girls from 16 to 18 have said they’ve been subjected to “unwanted sexual touching” in schools. These statistics underscore the urgent need for effective measures to protect vulnerable populations, especially young individuals navigating both physical and digital spaces.
Meta’s move to address growing fears of all too common and deadly harassment spread on its platform. They provide instinctive safeguarding by creating intangible borders that prevent odd consumers away. Yet users remain unconvinced as to the efficacy of each of these steps.
“The kind of behaviour described has no place on our platform,” said a Meta spokesperson.
Even with these assurances, users remain frustrated by what is seen as a lack of real, meaningful action in response to incidents. One woman expressed her disillusionment:
“I think everybody’s been assaulted in the damn metaverse.”
This is a sentiment that rings true to so many of us who have witnessed or been subjected to abuse in digital spaces. As Meta invests billions annually into developing its metaverse, critics argue that addressing safety and moderation protocols should be prioritized alongside technological advancements.
Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the Metaverse promises limitless possibilities. As women and children face increasing risks, the question arises: Is this digital domain truly safe for all?
“Unfortunately, it is too common,” lamented a British woman reflecting on her experiences.
Meta is growing its Metaverse offerings quickly. In turn, advocates and stakeholders are calling for more stringent protections and proactive measures to address harassment and abuse. So the promise of inclusive, immersive experiences must not be achieved at the expense of safety and personal dignity.