The concept of social presence and how it affects social interactions during virtual meetings hasn’t been extensively researched. But, a recent paper on social interactions in the metaverse light upon the potential of the technology.
The research investigated the value potential of real-time multisensory social interactions (RMSI) in the metaverse accessed through VR headsets and found that the metaverse adds value to RMSIs through a higher level of social presence.
How does a higher level of social presence affect collaboration?
1. Positively influences evaluations & emotions of participants
2. Results in a higher amount of interaction during a virtual meeting
3. Translates into a more positive virtual experience
In work settings, social presence is useful for team building, onboarding, training, three-dimensional presentations of products and creativity tasks.
The research also proves once again that 2D videoconferences generate fewer creative ideas than face-to-face meetings due to the static nature of an environment.
Check out how we create a strong social presence in Glue.
Source: Social interactions in the metaverse: Framework, initial evidence, and research roadmap
