Post originally appearing on vrinsights.io by Hema Ahuja.
Introduction
Self-perception is a combination of self-esteem and self-concept. It’s a mental picture of ourselves.
Self-perception influences how we present ourselves to others and interact in social situations.
Rather than being what is true about us, self-concept is our idea of ourselves. It may not be who we are and how others see us, or it could be close to reality.
Social media and technologies like virtual/augmented reality are increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives. And their impact on our self-perception is becoming more pronounced.
New Technologies Have Changed Our Daily Routines
The use of technologies like smartphones, tablet computers, and social media increased long before the pandemic. But when COVID-19 struck, it forced societal changes all around the globe that have dramatically increased the average person’s use and reliance on modern technologies.
Working from home and digital nomadism were both on the rise for over a decade, but the pandemic made the virtual office part of the “new normal” for millions. Although due to an emergency, this shift created new ways of doing everything from holding company meetings to supervising employees’ productivity. Even more important, now that the pandemic is over, a recent Pew Research poll shows the majority of workers that are working from home due to the pandemic prefer to continue to do so. The landscape of work has forever changed, and technologies will play a role that is much stronger than ever before.
The shopping habits of the average American have drastically changed post-pandemic. In fact, according to figures from the U.S. Census, online shopping shot up a whopping 43% in 2020 alone, the first year of the pandemic. It forced retailers to implement or upgrade new online offerings to stay afloat and capture this massive movement of consumers from physical shopping to online purchasing. According to a recent research paper by the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Sciences, as of August 2022, some shopping has shifted back to physical stores. Still, online shopping is just as prevalent post-pandemic and likely to grow.
But humans don’t simply work and shop. We are social creatures, and social media has changed our daily lifestyles more than any other emerging new technology. From staying in touch with family and friends, online dating, sharing, promoting our lifestyles, hobbies, and skills to the world through apps, social media has changed how we conduct our social life in ways never seen before.
And then comes along Metaverse
Although still in the early stages, Virtual Reality (VR) is gaining adoption in many countries. As it is fully immersive, the effect on self-perception is dramatic in positive and negative ways. A 2021 study found that high levels of involvement in Social VR games by isolated individuals with low self-esteem can lead to higher levels of depression.
But then, another study by the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, found that the same technologies can help treat depression under the proper supervision. Given its immersive nature and customizable user experiences, VR can offer therapeutic experiences that alleviate depression. Another example is this 2022 study where prison inmates, allowed to play their future selves in VR, displayed reduced self-defeating behavior.
These studies are few with a limited sample, so we need to take a directional view of the findings rather than a conclusive one.
Self-Perception in the New Digital Age
So, has this rapid increase in digital interaction influenced how we see ourselves? The short answer is YES.
Even before the pandemic, studies showed that the rise in social media usage profoundly affected self-perception. Users were comparing their physical image to those on social media and sharing only status updates that make them look happy/attractive, which shaped how they see themselves. Sometimes for the better, social applause around life achievements or states of fitness can cause boosts in both self-esteem and self-concept. But sometimes, comparing ourselves to others in a world where only the positive is posted can make us feel unworthy/less valued when experiencing tough times.
With the explosive growth of social media during the pandemic, these factors have magnified to the point where self-concept and social media presence is intimately linked for millions of people worldwide.
VR technology blurs the boundaries even more as people create their avatars and interact with others in a virtual world designed to be as similar as possible to the physical one. The Metaverse is described as a place where you can reinvent yourself, creating a digital identity that you live through in a completely virtual world.
The impact of the Metaverse on self-perception is closely studied, and experts have varying opinions on how this new technology will ultimately affect us. According to Dr. Marta R. Jablonski, the Metaverse has both positive and negative potential. At one end is the opportunity for enhancing self-esteem because it enables a “greater sense of community, proximity, contact with another person compared to today’s chats, communicators or videoconferencing.” But, it could also lead to problems due to the disinhibition effect, wherein the person in an avatar feels a lack of restraint in their actions compared to real world.
In Psychology Today, Dr. Marlynn Wei argues that the Metaverse will also increase our capacity for empathy, as it frees us from being overly self-concerned and allows us to engage in “perception-taking” activities with others that lead to greater understanding.
There are incidences of negative experiences in Social VR worlds. This NYTimes article details abuse on these platforms which can negatively impact users’ self-perception at an impressionable age. Here is a research study that highlights harassment faced by Social VR users. The study is skewed towards one geography (Japan) and primarily based on one platform (VRChat), but you can use directional insights to get a sense of the issue.
In conclusion, our self-perception has evolved with technological innovations in the last decade. It is likely to evolve further, given the immersive ecosystem possible with the Metaverse.
What’s Next?
In the next series of posts, we will look into specific dimensions of self-perception impacted by new technologies. We interviewed 152 Social VR users to understand their self-perception, motivations, and likes/dislikes about Social VR. The users had varied backgrounds, from college students to retirees.
Brands have started capitalizing on Metaverse technologies to engage and connect with consumers. The insights from this research will help them make informed decisions for their strategy to engage with consumers in a new environment.
