NINA PATEL recounts a harrowing experience in VR that left her feeling violated and unsafe.
In a Medium blog post, Nina Patel, 43, describes how she was “verbally and sexually harassed” in Facebook’s Metaverse.
Upon entering the Horizon Venues Metaverse experience, Patel says she was accosted “within 60 seconds” of joining the lobby area.
Her avatar —which was made to mirror her real life appearance — was quickly surrounded by three to four male avatars, with male voices.
“I was verbally and sexually harassed,” she recalls, adding that their inappropriate behaviour took a dark turn.
“[They] virtually gang raped my avatar and took photos — as I tried to get away they yelled — ‘don’t pretend you didn’t love it’ and ‘go rub yourself off to the photo’.”
She describes the ordeal as “surreal” and a “nightmare”.
Nina Patel isn’t the only one who’s experienced sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour in the game.
The reviews for Horizon Venues paint a similarly sordid picture, and it currently has 2.5/5 stars as a result.
“I went into Venues this morning and I am running into to many perverts,” reads one review.
“I can’t go back in until Oculus cleans it out of all the perverts and bullies.”
The woman describes a lack of personal space in the venue, and being made to feeling uncomfortable.
“There’s bratty kids in there cussing and insulting other people,” she adds.
A second review also cites the lack of personal space and “obnoxious” kids.
More concerningly, they were also followed around by someone being inappropriate.
“I know it’s avatars but trying to kiss my avatar or motor boating my avatar boobs is completely out of hand.
“couldn’t even get to the menu to report him or get out of there because his avatar was in the way.”
While there are measures to protect players, and an 18+ age limit, Patel says there just aren’t enough protocols in place to stop harassment.
As a mother of four, safety is paramount, and that’s why she’s creating her own educational metaverse, called Kabuni.
“Kabuni is designed for children, to improve learning, retention, engagement, speed, and health, based on our unique, evidence-based methodologies,” she explains.
“I will leave you with this thought,” she adds.
“Will you allow your child into a playground knowing that they could be exposed to damaging behaviour like this?”
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