Are virtual places perceived as real? Belief in equivalence of virtual and physical spaces and its role in shaping willingness to migrate to virtual worlds

Abstract

Have virtual spaces become so integrated into daily life that they are now perceived as ‘real’? Although philosophical debates have long examined the boundaries between real and virtual places, empirical studies on how people perceive these distinctions remain limited. In three cross-sectional studies conducted in the UK and Poland (N_total = 2360), we investigated the extent to which virtual places are perceived as equivalent to real-world locations. Our findings revealed that most adults still perceive a strong distinction between virtual and physical places, whereas adolescents reported a higher perceived equivalence. In all three studies, stronger attachment to virtual places predicted higher perceived equivalence, which in turn partially mediated the relationship between attachment and a willingness to move more activities to digital places. We argue that perceived equivalence helps explain how people redefine “place” as technology rapidly reshapes our environments.