New Harms Moderated by Immersive Experiences and Breaks in Them

Abstract: This proposal highlights the potential real-world consequences of harmful experiences in immersive and embodied spaces due to presence, which moderates experiences, intensifying positive or negative content. While positive experiences enhance social interactions, negative content can lead to harm. Also, presence is not continuous and may break. Understanding the threshold between harmful experiences and breaks in presence is essential. This proposal underscores the need to explore whether the level of immersion or the nature of harm defines the boundary, emphasizing key discussion points for the workshop.