Mirror Dwellers in Social VR: Investigating Reasons and Perception of Mirror Watching

In social Virtual Reality (VR) environments, the significant trend of 'mirror dwellers,' users who often use virtual mirrors to engage with their avatars, has emerged. This study examines discussions from r/VRchat to explore the reasons for this behavior and how it is perceived within the broader community. Our findings highlight the critical role of mirrors in compensating for the sensory limitations of VR, particularly the lack of physical feedback. Users often turn to mirrors to view parts of their avatar that are not accessible from a first-person perspective. Additionally, our research uncovers that a limited Field-Of-View (FOV) hinders the development of a strong connection between users and their avatars, further driving the need for mirrors. However, while using mirrors to mitigate FOV and physical feedback limitations can be helpful, it may also disrupt social interaction in VR environments, as the excessive reliance on mirrors can hinder the social experience in VR for others. This research deepens our understanding of user behavior in social VR and provides insights that could guide future design improvements to enrich the overall user experience.