Abstract: The metaverse is a multi-layer construction wherein people rebuild their identity, privacy, and social roles through interactive virtual environments powered by converging technologies. It is the aim of this paper to investigate systematically the ethical issues in metaverse spaces and recommend a multi-stakeholder ethical framework with such issues in consideration. A mixed-methods survey was conducted, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to explore perspectives on data safety, virtual identity, virtual harassment, and AI-based moderation. The findings suggest that users worry extensively about moral gray areas and propose a new definition of terms such as platform transparency and digital consent. This study contributes to the evolution of digital ethics theories into practicable theories for contemporary virtual spaces and provides hands-on ethical models for coders. It is also the aspiration that subsequent studies will investigate the lesser explored topics of child user experiences, digital death rituals, and religious activities in the virtual.

Keywords: Metaverse, Ethics, Privacy, Cyber Harassment, User Perception

Pages: 236-243

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