Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z
The Metaverse, a transformation of the internet by XR-technologies progressively blending the digital and physical world, is already changing our social structures. The success of VR-headsets like Quest has made both virtual worlds and the “metaverse” ubiquitous. This technological evolution yields...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2024.1330358/full |
| _version_ | 1797202511187148800 |
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| author | Oliver Korn Matteo Zallio Benjamin Schnitzer |
| author_facet | Oliver Korn Matteo Zallio Benjamin Schnitzer |
| author_sort | Oliver Korn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Metaverse, a transformation of the internet by XR-technologies progressively blending the digital and physical world, is already changing our social structures. The success of VR-headsets like Quest has made both virtual worlds and the “metaverse” ubiquitous. This technological evolution yields the potential to fundamentally change the way we communicate, live, and work together. At the same time, the perceptions of how these worlds affect our lives differ considerably. To that end, this study investigates the perceptions of 115 younger people from the generations Y and Z, the potential “power users” of virtual worlds. In addition, it investigates differences in perception between non-academics and academics. We looked at perceived knowledge, preferred usage scenarios, interaction with avatars and embodiment, perceived problems and challenges, personal worries, solutions for safeguarding, and institutions to drive safeguarding. While generation Y and Z are often aligned, it is a major finding that in the cases they differ, the younger generation Z is more skeptical. Likewise, non-academics are more skeptical than academics. Finally, we found differences in perception related to gender and provide possible explanations and recommended actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:04:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-13fd84f6313741a49db14b11ca95c6e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4192 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:04:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Virtual Reality |
| spelling | doaj.art-13fd84f6313741a49db14b11ca95c6e92024-04-17T12:16:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Virtual Reality2673-41922024-04-01510.3389/frvir.2024.13303581330358Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and ZOliver Korn0Matteo Zallio1Benjamin Schnitzer2Affective & Cognitive Institute, Offenburg University, Offenburg, GermanyDepartment of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United KingdomAffective & Cognitive Institute, Offenburg University, Offenburg, GermanyThe Metaverse, a transformation of the internet by XR-technologies progressively blending the digital and physical world, is already changing our social structures. The success of VR-headsets like Quest has made both virtual worlds and the “metaverse” ubiquitous. This technological evolution yields the potential to fundamentally change the way we communicate, live, and work together. At the same time, the perceptions of how these worlds affect our lives differ considerably. To that end, this study investigates the perceptions of 115 younger people from the generations Y and Z, the potential “power users” of virtual worlds. In addition, it investigates differences in perception between non-academics and academics. We looked at perceived knowledge, preferred usage scenarios, interaction with avatars and embodiment, perceived problems and challenges, personal worries, solutions for safeguarding, and institutions to drive safeguarding. While generation Y and Z are often aligned, it is a major finding that in the cases they differ, the younger generation Z is more skeptical. Likewise, non-academics are more skeptical than academics. Finally, we found differences in perception related to gender and provide possible explanations and recommended actions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2024.1330358/fullmetaversevirtual worldsextended realityvirtual realitygeneration Zgeneration Y |
| spellingShingle | Oliver Korn Matteo Zallio Benjamin Schnitzer Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z Frontiers in Virtual Reality metaverse virtual worlds extended reality virtual reality generation Z generation Y |
| title | Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z |
| title_full | Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z |
| title_fullStr | Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z |
| title_full_unstemmed | Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z |
| title_short | Young skeptics: exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations Y and Z |
| title_sort | young skeptics exploring the perceptions of virtual worlds and the metaverse in generations y and z |
| topic | metaverse virtual worlds extended reality virtual reality generation Z generation Y |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frvir.2024.1330358/full |
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