Virtual Connections, Real-World Confidence: A Study on Long-Term Social VR Use and Well-being in Older Adults

Loneliness and social isolation are major public health concerns for older adults. While emerging social virtual reality (VR) platforms offer a promising tool to foster connection, little is known about the experiences of older adults who voluntarily adopt and sustain engagement with this technology. This exploratory study addresses this gap by providing an empirical portrait of 35 long-term users (median age 60) of Thrive Pavilion, a social VR platform designed for older adults. Through an online survey, we investigated their usage patterns, loneliness, and perceived benefits. Findings reveal a user base of technologically comfortable early adopters who reported a high prevalence of loneliness (66%). Notably, most users were not physically limited, indicating VR was chosen for its unique social affordances, not merely as a substitute for in-person options. Engagement was high, and users reported substantial benefits, with a majority agreeing the platform increased social connections (90%), reduced loneliness (72%), and improved overall well-being (87%). Importantly, these benefits showed evidence of real-world transfer, with over a third of users reporting benefits such as reduced anxiety and increased confidence face-to-face interactions. The platform was rated as significantly superior to other communication tools for providing social presence and enjoyment and was perceived as a safe environment. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that age-specific social VR can be a deeply meaningful social venue for its users. These results highlight the technology's potential to combat loneliness. By examining this cohort of successful early adopters, the findings provide a proof of concept for social VR's benefits, demonstrating the technology's realized potential for those who sustain engagement, leaving open the question of its suitability and appeal for the broader older adult population.