Proximity chat

Proximity chat or spatial chat is type of internet platform that overlays video teleconferencing software on a virtual world environment, so that users can navigate freely and have conversations among small groups. Proximity chat as a genre has evolved as a virtual event solution in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as an attempt to get around Zoom fatigue.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

A distribution of small groups across a virtual world map can be more informal than a many-to-many session, and to some extent this format is a functional replacement for breakout rooms. Some of the platforms employ a retrogaming aesthetic similar to a 2D overworld, while others work from a blank virtual world or one built up of a collage of photos placed by the user.

In 2021 the children's game platform Roblox introduced a proximity chat feature for verified users over the age of 13. This feature prompted complaints by privacy advocates, since verification involves submitting a selfie and government issued ID to the company, which has a prior history of data leaks. Users have also expressed skepticism that the verification system has properly excluded younger users. Users and the parents of users have also complained, as inappropriate content such as slurs, sexual content, and illegal conduct such as drug deals have been documented as being audible on the platform.^[8]

See also

• Chat room
• Metaverse

References

1. McCulloch, Gretchen (2020-11-30). "A Mission to Make Virtual Parties Actually Fun". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
2. Lu, Yiren; Abella, Derek (2021-02-17). "The Race to Fix Virtual Meetings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
3. "Will moving, 'spatial video' start to eat into square-box Zoom calls? SpatialChat thinks so". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
4. "Virtual HQs race to win over a remote-work-fatigued market". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
5. "Can virtual meeting spaces save us all from Zoom fatigue?". the Guardian. 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
6. Alcántara, Ann-Marie (2020-12-31). "Video Chatting Became Popular in 2020, and Improved Along the Way". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
7. Wells, Sarah. "The antidote to Zoom fatigue is here". Inverse. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
8. Grayson, Nathan (16 November 2021). "Roblox voice chat checks ID to keep kids safe, but slurs and sex sounds slip through". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 December 2021.