Case Study: Facebook boosts social VR engagement with Neurons

The value of social interactions in VR

Facebook wanted to understand how people would respond to social interaction in virtual reality after acquiring Oculus and entering the VR market. Neurons was commissioned to study whether conversations in VR would feel natural or awkward compared with in-person interaction, especially for users with little to no prior VR experience.

Neurons used consumer neuroscience methods, including EEG brain monitoring, video recording, and post-conversation interviews, to compare VR and face-to-face conversations among 90 participants. The results showed that VR conversations produced almost the same level of emotional engagement and cognitive demand as in-person talks, while also generating strong interest in meeting again; notably, more introverted participants were even more engaged and preferred VR.

Facebook

Rachel Franklin

Head of Social Virtual Reality