"Swish and Flick!" Comparing Gestures and Menus in Defence Against Toxicity and Harassment in Social Virtual Reality.

Abstract

This thesis explores the use of gesture-based interactions as a strat- egy to mitigate toxicity and harassment in Social Virtual Reality (VR) games. As these environments become more popular, the fre- quency of negative behaviours poses significant challenges to the user experience. By comparing the effectiveness of gestures with traditional menu-driven methods for actions such as muting, block- ing, and reporting, this research evaluates factors like speed, ease of learning, and user enjoyment. A mixed-methods approach reveals insights into user preferences and the potential advantages of gesture controls in empowering users to respond to toxic interactions. The findings contribute to discussions on ethical design in Social VR and emphasize the need for effective tools. Ultimately, this study aims to foster a more inclusive atmosphere for users, enhancing social interactions within immersive digital spaces.