META-TOO (A transfer of knowledge and technology for investigating gender-based inappropriate social interactions in the Metaverse) as a WIDERA project aims in strengthening NKUA’s research excellence and management capacity by enhancing staff knowledge and skills, elevating its profile in Metaverse research, and fostering sustainable research and innovation partnerships that expand its collaborative network. META-TOO, as a twinning initiative, focuses at understanding, preventing, and combating gender-based harassment in the emerging digital worlds. The project examines social dynamics and harassment mechanisms within Virtual Reality (VR) environments to develop innovative intervention tools, safety policies, and technical specifications. By studying user behavior, META-TOO seeks to create a Metaverse that is safe, inclusive, and protected from gender-based discrimination and violence by design.
To tackle such a complex issue, technology alone is not enough. It requires a team that bridges Computer Science, Psychology, and Ethics. Meet the three key partners collaborating toward this goal:
1. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
NKUA, the project coordinator, provides the scientific and administrative foundation necessary for the project’s implementation. It supports the research through the interdisciplinary connection of three departments, ensuring that technological development remains aligned with social responsibility:
• Informatics & Telecommunications: Focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) design and the development of the XR experiences where experiments are conducted.
• Psychology: Analyzes social dynamics, perpetrator behavior, and the impact on victims within immersive environments.
• History & Philosophy of Science: Establishes the ethical framework, ensuring that the design of the Metaverse respects fundamental human values.
2. Inria
The French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology serves as the project’s technical pillar. With over 3,800 scientists and 220 research teams, Inria brings unparalleled expertise in virtual humans and interaction. The Seamless and VirtUs teams specialize in crowd simulation and the creation of realistic digital spaces where real and virtual humans coexist. Their contribution allows the team to study how users interact in high-density environments, analyzing “digital movement” and social dynamics where the risks of harassment increase.
3. IDIBAPS
Based in Barcelona, IDIBAPS is a premier biomedical research center closely linked to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, providing the project with clinical and neuroscientific insights. Its contribution focuses on the “human factor” and brain function within immersive environments. Through virtual embodiment (the psychological sense that a virtual avatar’s body is one’s own), IDIBAPS researchers study how Metaverse experiences affect the brain and mental health. This research is vital for understanding the deep “imprint” that negative social interactions or harassment leave on users, as well as for fostering empathy through technology.
The Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach
Gender-based harassment in the Metaverse is a problem that touches many fields simultaneously. Addressing it requires a deep understanding of VR’s technical capabilities, the psychological impact of virtual embodiment, and the social and ethical norms governing user interaction.
The partnership between NKUA, Inria, and IDIBAPS enables researchers from diverse backgrounds to exchange expertise and data daily. This interdisciplinary collaboration is what makes the study of such complex problems more effective, ensuring that the research covers every aspect of the user experience in the Metaverse.
Stay connected with META-TOO
Follow our journey and be the first to receive updates on our upcoming experiments and research findings through our official channels:
• Website: meta-too.eu
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/meta-too-eu/
• Instagram: instagram.com/meta_too_eu/
• YouTube: youtube.com/@META-TOO
Join us in building a safer and more inclusive Metaverse.
META-TOO project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No 101160266.
