# The Influence of Immersive Virtual Reality Systems on Online Social Application
## 1 Introduction
### Overview  
Current virtual social platforms can be divided into desktop virtual social platforms and immersive virtual social platforms according to categories of virtual reality systems used and different presentation modes. Desktop virtual social platform is characterized by screen of computer as a window for the operator to observe the virtual environment, and various external devices are generally used to control various objects in a virtual scene. This technology is relatively mature, and currently there are many products on the market. Typical examples are some online games with social functions, such as _World of Warcraft_ and _Final Fantasy 14_[10]. Immersive virtual social platform uses a more advanced and ideal immersive virtual reality system. HMD and other devices are used to close the operator's vision, hearing, and other senses in the virtual reality space, and input devices such as position tracker and data glove are used to make the operator feel fully engaged [11]. Development of this technology in the field of social networking is still in its infancy. Currently, there are only a few available platform software, such as Facebook Spaces, Altspace, VRchat, Rec Room, and SteamVR Home [12].  
The interaction system of these VR social applications is quite different from that of traditional applications. Facebook launched a virtual social platform called Facebook Spaces at the OC conference in 2016 [13]. Users need to set their own characters according to an official model, and they can communicate and interact with each other in a virtual scene. In Facebook Spaces, players in each room (a separate virtual scene that allows a certain number of players to enter) always surround a virtual round table. Players can freely switch between different round tables or backgrounds. They can also draw pictures, play dice, or take selfies with their friends.  
Another typical app is VRchat, which was first released in 2014. VRchat aims at communication and interaction of players, providing a variety of virtual scene activities such as a bonfire party, video and audio entertainment, ball games, and so on. VRchat allows players to create their own personalized characters and spaces. Unlike Facebook Spaces, VRchat not only provides some officially designed characters and scenes, but also allows players to upload their own files, use their favorite models as characters, and design their favorite scenes to play with friends [14]. VRchat also uses \"rooms\" as a basic unit to divide up different virtual scenes, allowing players to choose their favorite room from a room list. VRchat supports both PC users and HMD users [14]. Users of HMD devices with full-body tracking can perform free body actions and interact with objects in the room at will. According to statistics, the number of VRchat users worldwide has reached 1.5 million, with 20,000 daily active users.  
Virtual reality social applications are in their infancy, and there is no unified system framework, interaction design, or data allocation standards. Most of the available virtual reality social applications still rely on text and pictures as the main information carriers, providing users with the features of a virtual reality system as an auxiliary means of communication. Strictly speaking, these apps do not provide full virtual reality social services, but instead provide a hybrid, transitional social service.