Planet Theta Protects Women in the Metaverse

I am sure it is no shock to read that VR app development is an overwhelmingly male-dominated field. Other than some of the supporting artists, the field is nearly all men. The results are not surprising -- many popular dating apps and social VR apps seem oblivious to the concerns of women.

Our research found that men and women have very different concerns when it comes to using dating apps. The top concern for men is being catfished. The top concern for women is being physically assaulted or worse. It may come as no surprise that app developers have come up with many creative solutions to combat catfishing through integrating features like verified profiles and verified pics. As for protecting women’s safety, most have left it to women to protect themselves.

Many women agree that meeting in person for the first time after connecting with someone on a dating app is scary and dangerous. My girlfriends and I have a rule to never go on a first date from a dating app without some help from a friend. At least one us will agree on a check-in time with a secret code known by both parties to signal that everything is okay. Although women have come up with novel ways to protect themselves and each other, the dating industry itself has fallen short. Similarly, it should come as no surprise that many of the social VR apps have not made their space safe for women.

My first experiences in VR social apps were particularly telling. I went to one of the most popular VR worlds and within moments of loading into the area, I was accosted by a number of what sounded like teenage boys. Some began asking, “will you marry me?” and others called me all kinds of gendered insults and slurs. Many of the boys’ avatars looked like over-sexualized anime-style young girls wearing only underwear and bras. Unless you have experienced it, being surrounded by a half dozen thirteen-year-old boys using overtly sexual avatars while screaming obscenities can be quite jarring. I attempted to evade them by leaving the area, only to have one of the harassers find me within a couple minutes and direct his entourage of middle-school angst in my direction. After this cycle repeated a couple times, I lost my cool and logged off while thinking to myself, “how could any woman enjoy this?” It was a surprisingly familiar, yet upsetting experience. I was effectively denied access to the area, solely because I am a woman. That is what inspired me to begin creating a VR world built for all people, not just men.

I have personally designed Planet Theta with the concerns of women at the forefront. Our team has integrated cutting-edge VR features that give women the privacy and security we need to be protected from harassment and stalkers. Although I cannot promise that everyone on Planet Theta will be as friendly and courteous as I would like, I can promise that as a woman, you will be safe and in control of your dating life like never before.