VR & metaverse
Staying safe in virtual worlds
VR and the metaverse are genuinely fun — and they come with new versions of old risks: harassment, oversharing, device hacking, and crypto scams. Here's how to enjoy them while keeping yourself and your family safe.
Use the personal-space and block tools
Harassment is common in social VR — surveys have found a large share of users have witnessed it. Every major platform now ships safety tools: a personal-space bubble that keeps strangers at arm’s length, plus instant mute, block, and report. Turn personal space on by default, and don’t hesitate to mute or block — it’s not rude, it’s self-care.
Guard what you reveal
Voice chat and casual conversation make it easy to overshare your real name, town, school, or routine. Treat a virtual world like a public street: use a handle, keep identifying details vague, and assume anyone could be recording. Review each platform’s privacy settings to limit who can find, friend, or message you.
Treat headsets like the computers they are
VR and AR headsets are full computers with cameras, microphones, and your accounts. Researchers have shown they can be targeted to capture sensitive input. Keep the firmware updated, use a strong unique password and two-factor login on the platform account, and be cautious about side-loading unknown apps.
Watch for brand-impersonation and crypto scams
Scammers clone popular metaverse brands and platforms to push fake “airdrops,” land sales, NFT mints, and wallet-connect pages that drain your funds. Never connect your crypto wallet or enter a seed phrase from a link someone sends you. Navigate to official sites yourself, and verify before you sign anything.
Protect kids and teens
Younger users are especially exposed to strangers and pressure in virtual spaces. Set up child or supervised accounts where available, turn on the strictest privacy and contact settings, keep play in shared family areas, and talk openly about muting, blocking, and telling you about anything that feels wrong.
The basics still protect you everywhere
Strong unique passwords, two-factor login, and a healthy “verify before you click” habit protect you in virtual worlds just like the real one.
TrueID.Help is a protection toolkit, not an insurance policy. This page is general safety guidance; always follow each platform's own safety tools and reporting channels for your specific situation.