| Factor | VR | AR | |--------|----|----| | | Low (often solo) | High (interacting with real bystanders) | | Consent boundary | Clear (entering a game) | Fuzzy (camera always on) | | Persistence | Session-based | Can be anchored to real locations for years | | Harm type | Psychological mostly | Psychological + social + reputational |
Thus, an action that is merely rude in VR (e.g., teabagging a corpse) becomes taboo in AR if done over a real person’s grave. What is taboo in one culture may be acceptable in another. Examples: ar taboo
This guide is intended for students, developers, policymakers, and general readers interested in understanding why certain uses of AR provoke discomfort, rejection, or active prohibition. An AR taboo is an unwritten social rule or ethical boundary that discourages or forbids specific uses of Augmented Reality. Unlike legal prohibitions (e.g., spying laws), taboos arise from collective moral intuition, fear of social consequences, or psychological revulsion. | Factor | VR | AR | |--------|----|----|