BridgeMakers

How can Social VR Leaders Utilize Harm-Reduction and Harm-Prevention?

Social VR moderation requires more nuance than the punitive measures commonly seen in 2D social media platforms. This is because social VR operates on different psychological and emotional dynamics. To fully understand the complexities of moderation in these spaces, we need to explore where we came from, what makes social VR unique, and how harm-reduction and harm-prevention can transform the way we manage communities.

Where We Came From

Let’s start by reflecting on our own journeys into social VR. For many of us, the path began with social media or multiplayer games. These platforms introduced us to global connections, but interactions were limited to written words, images, and GIFs. Moderation systems mirrored corporate environments: rigid rules enforced by mutes, blocks, and bans. Moderators, often unpaid volunteers, acted more like firefighters extinguishing blazes than social workers addressing underlying causes.

In these 2D spaces, punitive justice prevailed because we couldn’t see the pain behind the behavior. Missteps were met with swift consequences, and viral growth made building meaningful community connections nearly impossible.

But social VR is different. It’s immersive, visceral, and deeply personal. It convinces us that our identity has transferred to another reality—a space where the boundaries between dreams, nightmares, and physical reality blur. Social VR offers breathtaking experiences, from awe-inspiring empathy to the darkest corners of human emotion. The intensity of these experiences requires moderation that goes beyond rules and punishment to address the emotional undercurrents driving behavior.

The Unique Dynamics of Social VR

In social VR, users can:

• Immerse in horror: Many users seek intense, immersive experiences in spaces designed by emerging creators pushing the boundaries of game design.

• Create and connect: Others paint, role-play, or socialize in ways that feel deeply real. Whether joining live-action role-play scenarios or engaging in improvised interactions, the act of “being present” is both the performance and the audience.

This realness has unintended consequences, particularly for younger users or those who struggle emotionally in physical reality. Imagine a young person conditioned to suppress their emotions navigating VR’s heightened emotional landscape. It’s like giving them a powerful stimulant and then expecting them to follow rules outlined in a wall of text.

When they falter, the system punishes them—mute, block, or ban. For first-time offenders, this can feel like an unfair and isolating response. Many return with new accounts, but often with bitterness and a desire for vengeance. Their frustrations are often misdirected at newcomers, perpetuating cycles of harm.

This isn’t just a phenomena for new users or members. This mindset exists in the deepest and most powerful groups within social VR where members are required to spend hours per day with the group to make it into the inner circle. A powerful community leader within one of these groups once told me, “I have too much rage and hope a troll will show up tonight!” What he didn’t seem aware of was that in his need to maintain his image of being a hero or leader he was seeking a target so that he could vent his unprocessed emotional energy. Another time the same leader told me, “You can’t save everyone.” and “Some people just deserve to be punished.” He didn’t recognize that these punitive measures often result in long-term and invisible harm. Years after being banned from his group, individuals have expressed to me how they carry awareness on a daily basis the emotional wounds of being defined by their worst moments or even just by their moments of absence, and instead of being thanked and checked-in with, they are excluded and erased, even after years of faithful service.

The Role of Moderators

Moderators in social VR are the boundary-setters, creating order from chaos. They set the culture of the community, protect its members, and try to preserve the spirit of what drew them to the group in the first place. However, the tools available to them often reinforce a punitive mindset inherited from social media, turning moderators into guards rather than guides.

When moderators rely on blocking and banning as their primary tools, they risk alienating members and burning out themselves. Moderation becomes reactive rather than proactive, and the sense of belonging that communities aim to foster begins to erode.

Toward Harm-Reduction and Prevention

To bridge through this larger punitive culture into practicing making brave spaces (versus trying to build an illusion of a safe space), social VR communities need to adopt harm-reduction and harm-prevention approaches. These strategies focus on understanding and addressing the root causes of behavior, creating opportunities for growth, and fostering resilience.

Here’s how community leaders can shift their approach from reactive to pro-active:

1. Replace Rules with Guidelines: Guidelines offer flexibility, allowing moderators to adapt to context and individual needs. If Rules are regularly enforced, the culture has a deeper problem than just a few bad apples wandering in.

2. Try framing moderators more as Gardeners and Guardians (versus Guards): Moderators should participate in nurturing growth and care for their communities, focusing on inclusion rather than exclusion.

3. Build Emotional Fluency: Teach moderators to recognize and process their emotions. Preventing escalation from irritation to anger helps them make more thoughtful and empathic decisions.

4. Practice Mediation and Mitigation: Create processes for addressing conflict constructively, involving the community in solutions rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

5. Model Vulnerability: Leaders should regularly say, “I don’t know,” or express authentic feelings to foster trust and connection.

Structural Changes for Sustainable Communities

Here are actionable ways to implement harm-reduction and prevention in social VR moderation:

• Create Clear Values: For example, BridgeMakers operates on transparency, kindness, iteration, stewardship, and a human-first approach. These values guide decisions during challenging times.

• Enforce Moderator Breaks: At BridgeMakers, helpers (including moderators) are required to take a one-month break after three months of service to prevent burnout.

• Focus on Purpose: Anchor your community in a larger mission, such as supporting a cause or hosting events that promote self-awareness.

• Reconnect with Disengaged Members: Instead of assuming members have moved on, reach out to understand their needs and concerns.

Balancing Moderation and Compassion

Most social VR communities rely on punitive moderation, often to their detriment. Members who are blocked or banned carry emotional scars, and the cycle of exclusion creates mono-cultures and weakens the community over time. To create thriving communities, leaders must embrace a more compassionate approach.

Moderation in moderation means:

• Viewing conflict as an opportunity for growth.

• Training moderators to foster belonging rather than enforcing exclusion.

• Recognizing that not everyone fits immediately, but given time, many can find their place.

As communities in social VR rebirth and evolve, leaders have the chance to invest in what’s present rather than chasing something new. By embracing harm-reduction and harm-prevention, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.

“Staying human is the best way for your community to stay together.”

BridgeMaking through the discomfort of community building

At BridgeMakers, community builders come together every Friday night from 6-8 PM PST to connect and share on how we’re growing through community building. Our meetings are a space for support, exploration, and reflection—designed for those navigating the complexities of leading and moderating in social VR.

The first hour is a time to express and reflect. We focus on the challenges, frustrations, and struggles of community building. This isn’t about finding the “right” answers—it’s about being heard and sharing those concerns with others who may be facing similar issues.

The second hour takes on a more playful tone. We explore and share worlds, asking the question: “How does this world build or break community?” Through these tours, we tell stories of past community moments and uncover the surprising and delightful ways groups use these worlds—often in ways their creators may not have intended.

If you’re looking for a place to share your experiences, gain insights, and grow with a network of dedicated community builders, we’d love to have you join us.¹

Let’s keep building better virtual spaces, together.

1. Please comment below, and someone from our team will reach out to you. In the meantime, thank you for considering better ways to build bridges with your community. ↩︎