Content Harms in Social VR: Abuse, Misinformation, Platform Cultures and Moderation

This chapter examines the challenges and implications of content harms within social Virtual Reality (VR) platforms. It outlines how harmful content, including misinformation, conspiracy theories and ideologically driven violence, can be intensified in immersive VR environments. Drawing from examples across different social VR platforms, the chapter discusses the difficulty of content moderation in VR and the potential for real-world harm. It explores the applicability of existing online content-harm mitigation approaches, such as community guidelines and automated moderation, to social VR, highlighting the unique challenges posed by the immersive nature of VR. The chapter concludes by addressing the future complexities of harmful content in mixed and augmented reality environments, stressing the importance of context-aware human moderation, AI support and the cultivation of pro-social community norms to prevent content harm in VR spaces.