Adaptive mechanisms of developing social connectedness in virtual reality environments

Loneliness and social isolation, only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are pressing societal challenges. Social Virtual Reality (SVR), as a form of social technology, can be seen as one of the alternatives for those unable to engage in traditional in-person interactions. This paper explores the dynamics of the development of social connectedness in SVR environments, highlighting the roles of embodiment, gestures, and non-verbal cues. The study reveals that the social connectedness in SVR unfolds through three formative phases and that the transition of social spaces from physical to virtual requires active participant engagement in (re-)negotiating and (re-)defining these spaces. The findings underscore the implications for designing virtual interaction spaces to enhance the potential for social connectedness development.