Exploring metaverse: affordances and risks for potential users

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to develop and validate a theoretical model via survey data to identify the affordances and challenges influencing metaverse adoption. We specifically examine the impact of immersion on users' adoption decisions and identify which affordances predict this immersion. Additionally, this paper assesses the importance of perceived risks in users' decision-making processes regarding future metaverse engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Using regression models applied to 198 survey responses, we tested our proposed model. To deepen our insights, we also conducted a qualitative analysis.

Findings

The findings confirm that users' perceptions of immersion and perceived risks are critical determinants in adoption decisions. Social presence, influenced by factors such as ubiquity and interoperability, emerges as a key component of immersion. From the qualitative data, we identified two potential strategies to enhance metaverse immersion: technical improvements and offline device-assisted strategies.

Originality/value

Our study contributes to the literature on information systems (IS) adoption and provides practical insights for practitioners on crucial considerations in metaverse design.

Citation

Bao, X., Yu, J. and Shou, M. (2024), "Exploring metaverse: affordances and risks for potential users", Information Technology & People, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-03-2023-0222