Traditionally, fostering positive intergroup contact—meaningful interactions between people from different social groups—has been one of the most effective ways to combat prejudice and discrimination. But what happens when these interactions take place in a virtual space, where real-world identities blend into digital avatars? This question led us to uncover a fascinating concept: common cyber identity. This virtual-world phenomenon could redefine how we think about identity and prejudice reduction.

What Is Common Cyber Identity?

In virtual reality, who we are in the real world becomes less important than who we are as avatars. This shift in perception creates a unique opportunity: the emergence of a common cyber identity.

A common cyber identity is a sense of belonging to a shared social group within a virtual reality environment. It isn’t based on race, gender, or nationality but on the collective experience of being part of a virtual community. When users embody avatars in virtual reality, the markers that typically divide us in the real world—like skin color or cultural background—can fade into the background, giving rise to this shared virtual identity. Our findings suggest that this collective identity in the virtual world could play a critical role in reducing prejudice. By creating a sense of unity that transcends physical-world divisions, common cyber identity fosters inclusivity and promotes positive attitudes toward others.

Exploring Common Cyber Identity in Action

In a recent study, we set out to understand how common cyber identity develops in virtual reality and its potential to reduce prejudice. Participants entered a virtual environment where they interacted with avatars representing either their racial ingroup (other White individuals) or an outgroup (Black individuals).

The experiment was designed to test whether these interactions, when framed cooperatively (working together toward a shared goal), could strengthen a common cyber identity. We measured how much participants felt they belonged to the same virtual group as the other avatars and examined whether this feeling influenced their attitudes toward the outgroup.

Key Findings: Cooperation Builds Bridges

1. Common Cyber Identity Flourishes in Cooperation
   The study found that cooperative interactions, such as teaming up to achieve a shared goal, fostered a strong common cyber identity. Participants reported feeling a sense of connection and unity with their virtual teammates, regardless of whether they belonged to the ingroup or outgroup.
2. Attitudes Improved Through Shared Identity
   When participants developed a strong common cyber identity, their attitudes toward outgroup members improved. This effect was particularly evident in terms of implicit biases—automatic, subconscious associations people hold about others. These positive changes in attitudes occurred even when the participants and outgroup members had no interaction outside of virtual reality.

Implications for Prejudice Reduction

The idea of common cyber identity has profound implications for reducing prejudice, both in virtual spaces and beyond.

• Transforming Virtual Reality into an Equalizer: Virtual reality can create a level playing field where traditional hierarchies and biases lose their grip. By emphasizing common cyber identity, virtual environments can become spaces where users collaborate as equals, fostering understanding.
• Designing Inclusive Interactions: The findings underline the importance of designing virtual experiences that encourage cooperation. Collaborative tasks and team-based games can help nurture a common cyber identity, promoting unity rather than division.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the potential of common cyber identity is exciting, there are challenges to address. Not all virtual interactions naturally lead to unity, and poorly designed scenarios can backfire. For instance, if participants are placed in competitive or conflict-driven roles, the sense of common identity may erode, reinforcing stereotypes rather than breaking them.

Common cyber identity offers a glimpse into how virtual reality can be leveraged to create more inclusive communities. The power lies not just in its immersive technology but in its ability to transform how we perceive and relate to one another. As we continue to explore this new frontier, the concept of common cyber identity may play a pivotal role in building more equitable and cohesive societies—both virtual and real.