How Does Virtual Reality Impact Society?

As VR has been rising in trend, it has increase in its user base and also become a norm for the society. As a politician, it’s something that must not be left out in order to follow the modern trend. However whether their action is right or wrong, are based on how the user status, environment and the way they perceived it. Firstly, politician have tried to connect to their voter and the world using virtual reality, to improve their reputation and influence. By doing so, it bring people closer to politics whether they want it or not as it change the way they think about the politician. For example Michelle and Barrack Obama has collaborated with New Zealand’s Weta effect house to create a 360 degree tour in the white house , anyone can get to peek to world one of the world’s most exclusive address. Second, making the world more connected.

The official has also used virtual reality to make the world an empathizing environment. For example, General Ban Ki-moon of UN Secretary travelled with a VR crew to country impacted by war or natural disaster. This is so to help other people to empathize with people living in those country therefore encourage them to help them. Third, it allow the government to have a mass surveillance on their country. The article “Intercept” point out that oculus privacy policy allow Facebook to gather privacy information and their physical movement, the kind of data is often requested by government.

Though there is no evidence of government request for it yet, it became a vulnerable location for all the user’s information to be leaked out. Lastly, VR is able to influence over people thinking, feeling and how they behaving. As virtual reality is highly realistic, it help to make people believe that it’s real, therefore enabling it to treat mental illness. For example, Cloud over Sidra, a VR documentary that it is initially it aim to gain sympathy for Syrian and therefore able to gain over 3 billion to help end the crisis of Syrian and also General Ban Kim-moon journey. By sharing perspective, it enable people to understand and feel more, therefore it VR has become a tool to change people in an more efficient way.