Virtual reality (VR) can take you to places you could never go in real life.
Whether it’s walking through ancient ruins or performing open-heart surgery, VR has some amazing uses—but it’s not meant for everything.
A new review of scientific studies published in Nature Human Behavior looks at what VR does well and where it falls short. Jeremy Bailenson, a professor at Stanford and director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab, led the review.
He says that VR is powerful but should be used “sparingly and thoughtfully.”
It’s not just another screen—it’s an intense, immersive experience that completely blocks out the real world. Used too long or for the wrong reasons, it can make people uncomfortable or even sick, similar to motion sickness.
Bailenson and his team recommend using VR for what they call “DICE” experiences: things that would be Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, or Expensive to do in real life.
For example, VR is excellent for virtual travel. Visiting places like the Grand Canyon or Pompeii in VR can feel almost like being there, which makes it useful for therapy too. Some psychologists use it to help people face their fears in a safe environment.
One study found that people who used VR to treat their fear of flying stayed free from that fear even three years later. On the other hand, using VR for regular office meetings didn’t catch on—most people found it too awkward and not worth the hassle of wearing a headset.
When it comes to learning, VR is most useful for hands-on, step-by-step tasks like surgery or public speaking. But for simple tasks like solving math problems, traditional methods work better. The key is to use VR when physical movement and immersion actually help the learning process.
Choosing the right avatar in VR also matters. Studies show that people act differently depending on their virtual identity. A taller or more athletic avatar might change how confidently someone behaves. That can be a good thing—but it also means you should be careful about how you present yourself in VR.
VR can be great for general fitness, like workout games or movement classes. But don’t count on it for learning exact physical skills like throwing a baseball. Judging precise distances in VR is still a major problem.
And lastly, be aware that while your avatar may hide your face, VR tracks your body movements. These patterns can be used to identify you, meaning there’s no real anonymity in virtual spaces.
So, while VR opens up exciting new worlds, it’s best used wisely—and in small doses.
