With millions in China still under pandemic lockdowns, ‘cloud clubbing’ has come to replace crowded dancefloors and late-night socialising for many young people. As physical and virtual lives increasingly intertwine, digitally savvy Gen Zers are finding release and escape in new online enclaves.

Technological advances are continuously reshaping how people interact, engage, and communicate with one another in the digital world. But how will people navigate social situations in the metaverse? Canvas8 spoke to Dr. Guo Freeman about how people form relationships in social VR.

With hype about the metaverse persisting, a couple has made headlines for tying the knot in a hybrid virtual-physical ceremony. Although such rituals aren't yet legally binding, they signal people’s continued curiosity for creative, fun, and meaningful remote interactions.

The demand for more authentic online communities is surging in the wake of the pandemic. Soul, a Chinese social media app and ‘virtual social playground’, focuses on building emotional connections through immersive worlds, putting individual interests and personalities first.