Real-time multisensory social interactions (RMSIs) between people are at the center of the metaverse, a new computer-mediated environment consisting of virtual “worlds” in which people act and communicate with each other in real-time via avatars. This research investigates whether RMSIs in the metaverse, when accessed through virtual-reality headsets, can generate more value for interactants in terms of interaction outcomes (interaction performance, evaluation, and emotional responses) than those on the two-dimensional (2D) internet (e.g., Zoom meetings). We combine theoretical logic with extensive field-experimental probes (which support the value-creation potential of the virtual-reality metaverse, but contradict its general superiority) to develop and refine a framework of how RMSIs in the metaverse versus on the 2D internet affect interaction outcomes through interactants’ intermediate conditions. The refined framework serves as foundation for a research roadmap on RMSIs in the metaverse, in which we highlight the critical roles of specific mediating and moderating forces along with interactional formats for future investigations of the metaverse and also name key business areas and societal challenges that deserve scholarly attention.

人与人之间的实时多感官社交互动 (RMSI) 是元宇宙的核心，元宇宙是一种由虚拟“世界”组成的以计算机为媒介的新环境，人们在其中通过化身实时行动和交流。这项研究调查了元宇宙中的 RMSI，当通过虚拟现实耳机访问时，是否可以在交互结果（交互性能、评估和情绪反应）方面为交互者产生比二维 (2D) 互联网上的更多价值（例如，Zoom 会议）。我们将理论逻辑与广泛的现场实验探索相结合（支持虚拟现实元宇宙的价值创造潜力，但与其一般情况相矛盾优势）来开发和完善一个框架，该框架说明元宇宙中的 RMSI 与二维互联网上的 RMSI 如何通过交互者的中间条件影响交互结果。完善后的框架为元宇宙中 RMSI 的研究路线图奠定了基础，我们在其中强调了特定中介和调节力量的关键作用以及未来元宇宙调查的交互形式，并指出了关键的业务领域和应得的社会挑战学术关注。