Framework for Social XR: Navigating Challenges, Ethics, and Opportunities for Authentic Community Engagement

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) redefine community engagement, posing challenges in user experience, privacy, security, inclusivity, and authentic interactions. This work proposes strategies for authentic community interactions in virtual realms, presenting a framework for ethical engagement through AR/VR/MR. Assessing industry trends, we categorize XR potential and challenges into Users, Technology, and XR experiences, emphasizing research gaps and opportunities for addressing social goals. We review and propose strategies to navigate the ethical considerations, inclusive design practices, and user satisfaction metrics to foster genuine connections across boundaries.