Perceptions, attitudes, and demographic influences on metaverse: A comprehensive investigation

Abstract

The Metaverse represents an innovative post-reality universe that seamlessly blends physical reality with virtual digital environments, facilitated by advanced technologies like virtual reality. As the adoption of Metaverse gains momentum, it becomes essential to comprehend individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, and the potential influence of demographic factors on their engagement with this novel digital realm. To address this gap, a comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to investigate participants’ understanding, attention, interest, and confidence in the Metaverse. The study also sought to examine how variables such as age, gender, education level, and professional background might impact respondents’ perceptions. This cross-sectional survey involved a diverse sample of 252 individuals residing in the UAE, encompassing different age groups, educational backgrounds, and occupations. The survey instrument was carefully designed to generate responses related to four primary dimensions: understanding, attention, interest, and confidence in the Metaverse. Demographic information, including age, gender, education level, and professional background, was also collected to assess potential associations with respondents’ perceptions. The survey findings revealed disparities based on gender and age in terms of understanding, attention, and interest in the Metaverse. Particularly, male respondents demonstrated higher levels of comprehension and attention in specific aspects, while undergraduate students or higher expressed significantly greater interest in Metaverse technology compared to individuals with lower educational backgrounds.