VRChat

VRChat is a mainstream, user-generated social virtual reality platform where people gather as avatars in user-created 'worlds' that range from quiet scenic environments to busy public social hubs. Users communicate through spatialised voice chat, simple gestures and virtual objects, and can join public worlds, friends-only instances or private instances. VRChat is notable in accessibility research because it functions as a 'third place' - a shared public space outside home and work - where disabled, LGBTQ+ and other marginalised users can build community, experiment with identity through avatars and find support that may be unavailable offline. It also illustrates tensions in social VR design, including harassment, fast-paced proxemic interactions and safety tools (mute, block, report) that can be difficult to use in the moment.