What type of study is this?

This is a Critical Communication study (also classified as: Critical Hermeneutics).

September 10, 2025

Extended Reality (XR) Technologies That Threaten Democracy: Criticism of Virtual Reality Manipulation

Key Points

Extended reality diminishes reflective capacities and threatens democratic engagement in digital spaces.
Findings show that algorithmic personalization builds hegemonic narratives, limiting public discussion.
Critical hermeneutics analysis reveals that users face epistemic dissociation due to XR experiences.
Emerging resistance among users highlights the need for enhanced digital literacy and ethical guidelines.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how Extended Reality (XR) technology, as a product of modernity, threatens democracy by evaluating the role of digital gatekeepers in constructing reality and representational dominance. Employing a critical hermeneutics method within a critical communication paradigm, the research reveals that XR produces sensory experiences that diminish users’ reflective capacity toward shared reality. Findings indicate that XR is used to build hegemonic narratives through algorithmic personalization, leading to epistemic dissociation and the weakening of public deliberation. Nonetheless, user resistance is emerging, albeit limited. This research asserts that XR represents a new power arena in the digital ecosystem, demanding ethical regulation and critical digital literacy.

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