Sex & the Metaverse: Oculus – Protection Reimagined
The advent of the metaverse and the proliferation of VR sex point towards a wider trend: humanity’s steady migration into an artificially created world. How are experts in digital romance interpreting and assessing these new developments?
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Mark Zuckerberg‘s vision, in which people spend most of their time in virtual reality, is gradually gaining clarity. This shift is spurred by mankind's craving for intense experiences, unconstrained by the physical realm. To our psyche, there is no fundamental difference between sensations perceived as fabricated and those felt as real, provided they fulfill a fervent need. Hence, it was only natural that when the gates to the proverbial forbidden fruit were unlatched, internet users seeking intense experiences flocked towards it.
Zuckerberg: The successor, not the pioneer
Indeed, long before Zuckerberg entered the scene, the concept of virtual relationships and virtual sex was explored from various angles by authors and filmmakers.
Numerous works, particularly within the cyberpunk genre, delved into the subject of sex beyond the confines of the physical world:
- In Kathryn Bigelow's thriller “Strange Days”, the story revolves around a policeman who sells recordings of virtual romantic experiences.
- Richard Gabai's sci-fi film “Virtual Girl” investigates the theme of obsession and the repercussions of blurring the boundaries between the physical and the virtual world.
- Neil Stephenson's novel “Snow Crash” paints a picture of a three-dimensional unreal world dubbed the “Metaverse”, where individuals interact with each other in a way that mirrors physical existence.
- Ernest Cline's dystopian novel “Ready Player One” portrays humans seeking refuge from the harsh realities of life through a game named OASIS, where the protagonist grapples with various experiences, including engaging in sexual activities with other players.
Numerous other series and books have dissected this topic in one form or another. Interestingly, these creations date back to the 90s, long before the emergence of Meta and Oculus. Even then, creators sensed the allure of virtual relationships and knew it was only a matter of time before desires considered forbidden in the physical world would find their manifestation in internet simulators.
The allure of the metaverse lies in its ability to offer a safe space for sexual exploration, free from the constraints of societal norms or real-world consequences. The technologies underpinning VR sex are rapidly evolving, promising even more immersive experiences in the future. As these encounters become indistinguishable from real-life ones, virtual platforms for enacting hidden fantasies are gaining popularity.
Yet, this raises legal rather than ethical considerations.
Navigating the legal landscape
One of the central issues concerning sex in the metaverse is its legality. Although it's perfectly acceptable to engage in consensual sexual relations, things become complicated in a virtual setting when interactions with others occur without explicit consent.
Even in the metaverse, consent is paramount, and breaching boundaries without it should warrant real-world implications. It's essential to establish clear rules of agreement and maintain open dialogue with partners to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all parties. However, the implementation of such protocols remains unclear.
A separate matter concerns determining partners' ages. If providing passport details during registration becomes compulsory, it could deter both potential and current metaverse users. In the virtual realm, users primarily seek privacy, and full de-anonymization would violate this principle.
In South Korea, a nation where both teenagers and the elderly frequent the metaverse, regulators are already crafting universal behavioral guidelines for virtual reality.
The “Metaverse Ethical Principles”, proposed by Seoul's Ministry of Science, entail several directives they intend to universally enforce:
- Authenticity: Developers should afford users the ability to create avatars that closely mirror their actual selves.
- Privacy and personal data protection.
- Inclusiveness: Ensuring equal access to virtual spaces regardless of gender, religious beliefs, or racial identity.
- Responsibility: Upholding fundamental human values and behavioral codes.
Guidelines from South Korean Ministry of Science: User Code for the Metaverse Source: koreajoongangdaily
South Korea's Ministry of Science is devising a behavioral code for avatars, albeit one that lacks legal binding. But it doesn't offer a clear mechanism for monitoring adherence to these rules. Therefore, the legal boundaries of virtual sex remain shrouded in considerable ambiguity.
While regulators grapple with these complex issues, entrepreneurs are actively exploring the potential to profit from the desire to experience forbidden fruit, whether it be a pixel or a megabyte.
Experts in the future of sex
A whole team of researchers is devoted to studying the problems and opportunities of virtual sex. They keep an eye on new trends and technological innovations, from platforms for adult content creation such as OnlyFans, to webcam models.
Their interest lies not so much in pleasure technologies, but rather in people's sexual health. Therefore, experts are certain that if there is a desire and the ability to engage in sex, whether in space or in the metaverse, it should be fulfilled. Each member of the team of experts has their own project, each catering to different target audiences, and each of them is an ambassador for VR sex.
For instance, Lawrence Johnson, co-founder of the wellness brand Pure for Men, designed for gay men, shared his vision of a promising future in an interview: “As talk about the metaverse continues to swell, I suspect we’ll start to see breakthroughs in connected sexual experiences. Think virtual bathhouses and theaters but with greater immersion in what are truly shared online spaces. Imagine purchasing your favorite adult film star’s popular, one-of-a-kind sex slave outfit and being the only person in the metaverse that can wear it to a favorite VR bathhouse. Digital items like this will sell for thousands if not millions for us in a digital landscape being built for you at this very moment.”
Kyle Farwell, co-founder of the virtual dating platform Flirtu.al, claims, “In dating and sex, traditional technologies like text and video have now been joined by Virtual Reality. Metaverse technologies will expand the possibilities of digital touch, presence—and pleasure.”
Among the experts, there are those who delve into truly remarkable subjects. For instance, Bobbi Bidochka, co-chair of the Academic Congress on sex with robots and the author of “Sexual Intelligence in Business”.
Ola Miedzynska, founder and CEO of Sx Tech Eu, conducts entire conferences on the topic of “Immersive VR Entertainment for Adults”.
Dr. Markie L. C. Twist writes academic papers dedicated to digi-identity, a deep sexual attachment (digiattachment) to digital partners with artificial intelligence.
Virtual reality specialists are convinced that in the new world, the possibilities for sexual relationships become even more profound. Instead of exchanging videos or photos, people will interact with each other through their avatars, exploring intimacy in ways that were previously unimaginable. This evolution provides individuals the freedom to explore their deepest desires without physical restrictions and in mutual consent with one or more partners.
And seemingly, there will be no place for prudes in this world.
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