Virtual Reality Social Media

By now we have probably all seen or used virtual reality (VR) in video games, but did you know that there are also VR options for social media? There are three websites I will focus on that have grown in popularity significantly over the last two years due to the pandemic and people wanting to physically distance themselves from each other. 

Altspace

Founded in 2013, Altspace was launched in order to make it easier for brands, businesses and creators to create and host virtual reality events. Once you get started on Altspace you can attend or create your own events, find friends, share photos and explore creators’ own customized worlds. When Burning Man hosted virtual events back in 2020, Altspace hosted one of their virtual worlds.

Rec Room

Described on their website as “the best place to build and play games together”, Rec Room is an app that you can use on VR headsets, on your phone or computer! Users on both systems can play together, and the platform is free to download. They have lots of games to play, but in my opinion the coolest feature is “the Maker Pen” which is a tool that people can use to build items in the game.

VR Chat

VR Chat is available on a variety of hosts like Steam, Rift and Quest. You do not require a VR headset to play this game. Users can create a customer avatar, create their own worlds, make new friends and join communities based on interests. They mention on their website that some users have said the platform has even helped them with social anxiety.

I have yet to explore a VR social media platform myself, but after doing some research it may be something I look more into! What do you guys think of VR and would you join a VR social media platform?