Work

Beyond Affirmative Consent: Creating Alternative Models for Consent to Computer-Mediated Sexual Activity Through Social VR for Online Dating

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Despite the absence of consent being a defining quality of computer-mediated sexual harm, there is an absence of consent models that explicitly prescribe how consent to sexual activity should be asked for, given, and denied when mediated by technology. HCI literature has advocated for the adoption of affirmative consent (''yes means yes''); however, this model was created in 1991 without consideration for computers and has been historically underutilized. Through a speculative study of VR dating with 16 women and LGBTQIA+ stakeholders, we contribute archetypes of four new computer-mediated consent models for sexual activity. These include 1) visual consent through AR/VR rather than verbal dialogue, 2) agent-mediated consent where AI agents communicate consent on behalf of sexual partners, 3) a two-layer consent process called consent-to-stimulus, and 4) environmental consent where virtual environments scaffold behaviors that can(not) be consented to. We conclude by reflecting on which models could potentially supplant affirmative consent to better mitigate computer-mediated sexual violence and harassment. Content warning: This paper discusses forms of sexual violence including rape.

Source: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

DOI: 10.1145/3757558

Authors: Douglas Zytko, Devin Tebbe, Braeden Burger, Emma Walquist, Meryem Barkallah

Institution: University of Michigan–Flint

Language: English

Topic: Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Science Foundation