A study in Oxford has found that virtual reality can treat fear of heights effectively by immersing people into a phobia-inducing situation where they can overcome their fear. The NHS' incorporation of VR shows its use and value beyond pure entertainment, to applications within health.

Liminal VR is an Australian start-up that is crowdsourcing developers and neuroscientists to create short virtual-reality experiences that let them ‘choose’ how they want to feel, catering to people’s desire for agency over their emotions at a time when ‘soft’ skills are increasingly important.

The popularity of arcades in Japan have been waning, but VR may be able to breath new life into the industry. While VR is often seen as an isolating solitary pursuit, the influx of VR in Japanese arcades is making gaming more sociable again, and steering young people from more isolated pursuits.

Lingering stigmas around mental illness in China have meant that getting treatment has long been difficult, with this hurdle negatively impacting outcomes for those seeking help. Now, Wechat groups and digital communities are starting a wider conversation and increasing access to support.