VIRRAC Network Project

“Safeguarding young people in immersive virtual reality environments”

Our mission is to lead efforts in raising awareness and building collaboration among stakeholders in order to create a safe metaverse and address the risks faced by youth people in virtual reality.

The “VIRRAC-Network” - Youth Safety in Emerging Technologies project is an innovative initiative, funded by the REPHRAIN Research Centre, led by the Institute for Connected Communities at the University of East London. It builds on the Virtual Reality Risks Against Children (VIRRAC) research project led by Professor Julia Davidson OBE, Director of the Institute of Connected Communities (University of East London) and Professor Elena Martellozzo, Associate Director at the Centre for Abuse & Trauma Studies (Middlesex University), with crucial support from Dr Ruby Farr, Paula Bradbury and Boglarka Meggyesfalvi.

This project is dedicated to enhancing the safety of young people in rapidly evolving immersive digital environments by building an interdisciplinary network of experts from academia, industry, and public policy. The project focuses on addressing the unique risks posed by emerging technologies such as the metaverse or virtual reality. 

Its key activities are hosting a public webinar to share insights and raise awareness, conducting collaborative research to identify safety challenges, and developing evidence-based strategies to protect young users online. By fostering cross-sector collaboration and engaging with diverse stakeholders, the VIRRAC-Network project aims to lead the way in safeguarding young people in the digital age, focusing on their presence in immersive, multidimensional online environments. We invite you to join us in this critical mission to ensure a safer online world for the next generation.

Who can join us?

We aim to engage with key stakeholders in the online safety field including but not exclusively from:

  • Academia: Researchers, lecturers and academics specialising in online/digital safety, emerging technologies, criminology, policing, psychology, child development, and education.
  • Industry: Technology companies and their representatives, especially those involved in virtual reality, augmented reality, AI, trust and safety/content moderation, safety-by-design, and social media platforms.
  • Public Policy: Policymakers, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies that can influence policies that protect young people in digital environments.
  • Non-Profit and Community Organisations: Organisations, especially those dedicated to child protection and safeguarding, digital rights, youth participation, and education.

For more information or to get involved, please contact us.

If you are interested in joining the network, you can express your interest via this online form too.

Learn more about the VIRRAC research findings and its practical, evidence-led resources for children and practitioners: