New research from Florida Atlantic University and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has shed light on the risks young people face in virtual reality environments, revealing that more than one-third of U.S. Teens have experienced bullying or harassment in the metaverse. The study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 5,005 adolescents aged 13 to 17, found that 37.6% reported being bullied and 35% faced harassment although using VR devices. These findings come as VR headset ownership continues to grow among youth, with 32.6% of U.S. Teens now owning such devices—a figure that rises to 41% among boys and 25.1% among girls.
The study, published in the journal New Media & Society, is among the first to systematically examine harm in immersive digital spaces among American adolescents. Researchers documented 12 specific types of negative experiences, ranging from hate speech and trolling to more severe risks like sexual harassment and grooming behaviors. Nearly 44% of participants said they had received hate speech or slurs, with 8.9% reporting such incidents occurred “many times.” Trolling affected 43.3% of youth, while 31.6% said they were maliciously obstructed in virtual spaces—actions designed to prevent normal interaction or movement within the environment.
Perhaps most concerning were the findings related to sexual harm. Almost 19% of teens reported experiencing sexual harassment in VR environments, and 29% said they had been exposed to unwanted violent or sexual content. The study also highlighted grooming behaviors, where adults build trust with minors for exploitative purposes, though specific prevalence rates for this category were not detailed in the published results. These risks are amplified by the immersive nature of VR, which can blur the boundaries between physical and digital realities, making harmful experiences feel more immediate and psychologically impactful.
Gender differences emerged clearly in the data. Boys were significantly more likely to own VR headsets, with 41% reporting ownership compared to 25.1% of girls. However, when it came to certain types of harm, girls reported higher rates of sexual harassment and unwanted exposure to explicit content, while boys were more likely to encounter hate speech and bullying. These disparities suggest that safety interventions may need to be tailored to different user experiences rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
The researchers emphasized that while the metaverse offers opportunities for creativity, social connection, and education, the lack of robust moderation and age-appropriate safeguards leaves young users vulnerable. Unlike traditional social media platforms, many VR environments operate with minimal oversight, and reporting mechanisms for abuse are often unclear or difficult to access—especially for younger teens who may not recognize certain behaviors as harmful or recognize how to seek help.
Experts recommend that parents and educators seize proactive steps to mitigate these risks. This includes setting clear boundaries around VR use, discussing online safety regularly, and teaching children how to identify and report inappropriate behavior. Some platforms now offer parental controls that allow adults to monitor interactions, restrict access to certain worlds, or disable voice chat—but awareness of these tools remains low among caregivers. The study’s authors call for greater collaboration between technology companies, policymakers, and child development specialists to design safer virtual spaces from the outset.
As VR adoption continues to rise—driven by falling hardware costs and expanding content libraries—the need for evidence-based safety guidelines becomes more urgent. The study’s large sample size and national scope lend weight to its findings, offering a critical baseline for future research and policy development. While the metaverse holds promise as a next-generation digital frontier, ensuring it is safe for young users will require sustained attention, transparency, and coordinated action across industries.
The next step in addressing these concerns lies in ongoing research and platform accountability. Studies like this one help identify where protections are falling short, but lasting change will depend on whether companies implement meaningful safety features and whether regulators establish clear standards for child protection in immersive environments. For now, families are encouraged to stay informed, use available safety tools, and maintain open conversations about digital experiences.
If you found this information helpful, please consider sharing it with other parents, educators, or anyone interested in youth digital safety. We welcome your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—what steps have you taken to keep young people safe in virtual spaces?