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Harassment in Virtual Reality: A Systematic Review

Dong, Jiong, Lu, Yijun, Wu, Shuai, Ma, Yuyin, Ping, Yuan, Liu, Jiang, Washizaki, Hironori·2026·Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
DOI 10.1145/3772318.3791728
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Abstract

This systematic review examines harassment in virtual reality (VR), synthesizing findings from 85 studies published between 2017 and 2025. We propose a nuanced typology of harassment, encompassing spatial intrusion, sexual and verbal abuse, identity-based discrimination, group-targeted harassment, and systemic harms, and demonstrate how VR’s immersive and embodied features amplify risk and impact. Marginalized users, such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, children, and people with disabilities, face disproportionate harm. We further analyze the psychological and behavioral consequences of harassment, as well as the effectiveness and limitations of current governance, design, and AI-driven interventions. Our review identifies persistent research gaps in theory, measurement, and inclusive protection, and advocates for ethical, participatory, and preventive approaches to platform safety. This work aims to guide researchers and designers in building more equitable and safe VR environments.

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  • Dong et al. (2026) found that LGBTQ+ individuals were among the marginalized groups facing disproportionate harm in VR spaces.

    “Critically, the review found that LGBTQ+ individuals were among the marginalized groups facing disproportionate harm in VR spaces, and that the embodied, immersive nature of VR means that identity-based harassment can feel more viscerally threatening than equivalent experiences in text-based online environments.”

    From Artificial intelligence and immersive technologies for LGBTQ+ youth: a narrative review (2026) · cites this paper as Dong et al. (2026)

  • The embodied, immersive nature of VR means that identity-based harassment can feel more viscerally threatening than equivalent experiences in text-based online environments.

    “Critically, the review found that LGBTQ+ individuals were among the marginalized groups facing disproportionate harm in VR spaces, and that the embodied, immersive nature of VR means that identity-based harassment can feel more viscerally threatening than equivalent experiences in text-based online environments.”

    From Artificial intelligence and immersive technologies for LGBTQ+ youth: a narrative review (2026) · cites this paper as Dong et al. (2026)

  • Dong et al. (2026) report psychological and physiological reactions to VR harassment including panic, shame, and dissociation.

    “Dong et al. (2026) report psychological and physiological reactions to VR harassment including panic, shame, and dissociation.”

    From Artificial intelligence and immersive technologies for LGBTQ+ youth: a narrative review (2026) · cites this paper as Dong et al. (2026)

  • Dong et al. (2026) synthesized findings from 85 studies published between 2017 and 2025, identifying a typology of VR harassment that includes spatial intrusion, verbal and sexual abuse, identity-based discrimination, and group-targeted attacks.

    “In a comprehensive systematic review of harassment in virtual reality environments, Dong et al. (2026) synthesized findings from 85 studies published between 2017 and 2025, identifying a typology of VR harassment that includes spatial intrusion, verbal and sexual abuse, identity-based discrimination, and group-targeted attacks.”

    From Artificial intelligence and immersive technologies for LGBTQ+ youth: a narrative review (2026) · cites this paper as Dong et al. (2026)

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Metadata

Authors
Dong, J., Lu, Y., Wu, S., Ma, Y., Ping, Y., Liu, J., & Washizaki, H.
Venue
Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Publisher
ACM
Published
2026-04-13
Pages
1-21
DOI
10.1145/3772318.3791728
Cited by
1
References
1
Funders
  • Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (252300420984)
  • Key Scientific Research Project Plan of Henan Provincial Colleges and Universities (25B520018)
  • JST BOOST, Japan (JPMJBS2429)
  • Basic Research Funds of Universities in the Autonomous Region (202512120001)
  • General Program of the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (202512120011)

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