# Simulated Social Experiences Facebook is Developing a "Social Reality" Complete with VR Emojis By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-10-19 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-reality References: [digitalbuzzblog](http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/facebook-social-augmented-reality-is-here/) & [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/06/vr-) At the recent [Oculus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/horizon-workrooms) Connect conference, Mark Zuckerberg teased a new "[social reality](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meta-hyperscape-capture)" experience that uses augmented and virtual reality to bring far-off friends before the eyes. Inside this AR and VR experience, avatars of one's friends are called on-screen, so that it's possible to play games like chess or cards, engage in a sword fight or watch TV together. Within this experience, users are also able to take calls from [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-avatars) Messenger or take a VR selfie and instantly share it to Facebook. These avatars will be able to express a variety of emotions through voice analysis or inputting commands into the Oculus controllers. With this, Facebook is pioneering what it calls "virtual reality emoji," which is set to have a large impact on the way emotions are conveyed in virtual reality settings. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.0/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Social Reality Experience:** Facebook's development of a social reality experience using AR and VR opens up opportunities for immersive social interactions and collaboration in virtual environments. - **Virtual Reality Emoji:** Facebook's introduction of virtual reality emoji using voice analysis and Oculus controllers revolutionizes emotion communication in virtual reality settings. - **Augmented and Virtual Reality Gaming:** The integration of AR and VR into gaming experiences, as demonstrated by Facebook's avatar-based games, showcases the potential for interactive and immersive gameplay. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Social Networking:** The social networking industry can leverage Facebook's social reality experience to enhance user engagement and create more immersive social interactions. - **Virtual Reality Technology:** The development of virtual reality emoji and immersive social experiences by Facebook presents new opportunities for growth and innovation in the virtual reality technology industry. - **Gaming and Entertainment:** The integration of augmented and virtual reality technologies in gaming, as demonstrated by Facebook's avatar-based games, offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the gaming and entertainment industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Lifelike 3D Metaverse Avatars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-avatars.md) - [Video Conferencing Avatar Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cartoon-avatar.md) - [Avatar-Supporting Social Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whatsapp-2.md) - [Social Metaverse Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/horizon-worlds.md) - [Cartoon Avatar Digital Meetings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zoom-avatar.md) - [AI-Driven Virtual Avatars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensorium-galaxy.md) - [App-Facilitated VR Integrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whatsapp-4.md) - [VR Dating Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flirtual.md) - [Tactile Bare-Hands Metaverse Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emerge.md)