f4e6472e-6cbc-488f-8fe9-a2485ce0555320251117130043448wseas:wseasmdt@crossref.orgMDT DepositInternational Journal of Applied Sciences & Development2945-045410.37394/232029https://wseas.com/journals/asd/12920251292025410.37394/232029.2025.4https://wseas.com/journals/asd/2025.phpAlperenKayanDepartment of Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Architecture Istanbul Beykent University Sariyer, Istanbul TURKEYMuhammet FatihZenginDepartment of Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Architecture Istanbul Beykent University Sariyer, Istanbul TURKEYKemal GökhanNalbantDepartment of Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Architecture Istanbul Beykent University Sariyer, Istanbul TURKEYThe metaverse is a multi-layer construction wherein people rebuild their identity, privacy, and social roles through interactive virtual environments powered by converging technologies. It is the aim of this paper to investigate systematically the ethical issues in metaverse spaces and recommend a multi-stakeholder ethical framework with such issues in consideration. A mixed-methods survey was conducted, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to explore perspectives on data safety, virtual identity, virtual harassment, and AI-based moderation. The findings suggest that users worry extensively about moral gray areas and propose a new definition of terms such as platform transparency and digital consent. This study contributes to the evolution of digital ethics theories into practicable theories for contemporary virtual spaces and provides hands-on ethical models for coders. It is also the aspiration that subsequent studies will investigate the lesser explored topics of child user experiences, digital death rituals, and religious activities in the virtual.111720251117202523624325https://wseas.com/journals/asd/2025/a50asd-019(2025).pdf10.37394/232029.2025.4.25https://wseas.com/journals/asd/2025/a50asd-019(2025).pdfN. Stephenson, *Snow Crash*, 1st ed. United States: Bantam Books, 1992. 10.3390/electronics12224580M. Perez, A. Pineda-Rafols, M. P. EgeaRomero, M. Gonzalez-Moreno, and E. Rincon, “Addressing Body Image Disturbance through Metaverse-Related Technologies: A Systematic Review,” Electronics, vol. 12, no. 22, pp. 4580, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12224580 10.1016/j.dss.2024.114337R. K. Behera, M. Janssen, N. P. Rana, P. K. Bala, and D. Chakraborty, “Responsible Metaverse: Ethical Metaverse Principles for Guiding Decision-Making and Maintaining Complex Relationships for Businesses in 3D Virtual Spaces,” Decision Support Systems, vol. 187, p. 114337, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2024.114337 10.5771/0010-3497-2023-3-427A. Puzio, “When the Digital Continues After Death: Ethical Perspectives on Death Tech and the Digital Afterlife,” Communicatio Socialis, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 427–436, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5771/0010-3497-2023-3-427 10.57020/ject.1460995S. Neethirajan, “Metaverse for Enhancing Animal Welfare – Leveraging Sensor Technology and Ethical Considerations,” Journal of Emerging Computer Technologies, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 6–14, 2024. https://doi.org/10.57020/ject.1460995 10.3390/philosophies9030071H. Rodríguez Reséndiz and J. Rodríguez Reséndiz, “Digital Resurrection: Challenging the Boundary between Life and Death with Artificial Intelligence,” Philosophies, vol. 9, no. 3, p. 71, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies9030071 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11762A. Cerasa, A. Gaggioli, F. Marino, G. Riva, and G. Pioggia, “The Promise of the Metaverse in Mental Health: The New Era of Digital Therapy,” Heliyon, vol. 8, no. 11, p. e11762, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11762 10.3389/fhumd.2023.1226848N. Munn and D. Weijers, “The Real Ethical Problem with Metaverses,” Frontiers in Human Dynamics, vol. 5, p. 1226848, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2023.1226848 10.1093/ojls/gqaf009C. McGlynn and C. Rigotti, “From Virtual Rape to Meta-rape: Sexual Violence, Criminal Law and the Metaverse,” Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqaf009 S. Tiwari, “Preserving Childhood by Design: Ethics for Metaverse Content Creators,” 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/preservingchildhood-design-ethics-metaverse-contentcreators-tiwari/ 10.1089/cyber.2023.0003J. Thomas, M. A. Kuhail, and F. AlBeyahi, “The Metaverse, Religious Practice and Wellbeing: A Narrative Review,” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 57–63, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0003