Mark Zuckerberg has live streamed a virtual reality tour of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico.
The Facebook founder explored a number of locations using an Occulus Rift headset and Facebook’s Spaces app, broadcasting the experience to his followers.
But some have questioned whether the sight of one of the world’s wealthiest men in cartoon form against the backdrop of a disaster zone was entirely appropriate.
Many have branded the footage ‘disaster porn’, claiming he is ‘exploiting disaster’ by broadcasting a tone-deaf promo.
Mark Zuckerberg has live streamed a virtual reality tour of hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico. The social networking mogul explored a number of locations using an Occulus Rift headset and Facebook’s Spaces app, broadcasting the experience to his followers
SPACES LIVE
Facebook users can have a taste of virtual reality without shelling out for equipment, thanks to an app launched by the firm back in July.
The social media site’s Spaces app lets Oculus owners live stream, opening a window into their digital world.
Facebook Live’s new feature, aimed at users of the company’s Oculus Rift, allows your friends on the site to comment on your broadcast and ask you questions.
You can even see their reactions in the VR world.
Users see a stream of comments, which they and anyone else in the same Spaces session can interact with as physical objects.
Facebook also decided to drop the price of the Oculus Rift and Touch to £399 ($399) over the summer, to encourage consumers to try them out.
Zuckerberg appeared in the stream alongside Facebook’s head of social virtual reality, Rachel Franklin.
The pairs’ avatars transported between various locations during the broadcast, including the moon and Zuckerberg’s living room.
Scenes of destruction in the US island territory were taken from a 360-degree video from NPR, which documents the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Speaking in the footage, a smiling Zuckerberg said: ‘One of the things that’s really magical about VR is you can get the feeling you’re really in a place.
‘Rachel and I aren’t even in the same building in the physical world, but it feels like we’re in the same place and can make eye contact.
‘It feels like we’re really here in Puerto Rico.’
The pair shared a ‘high five’, before discussing Facebook’s efforts to help with disaster relief.
This includes a £1.1 million ($1.5 million) donation and sharing data with the Red Cross to build ‘population maps’.
It is hoped this will aid relief organisations in targeting their efforts where they are needed most.
A number of users took to social media to speak out about the broadcast, branding Zuckerberg a ‘heartless billionaire’ and labelling the footage ‘disaster porn’.
Some have questioned whether the sight of one of the world’s wealthiest men in cartoon form against the backdrop of a disaster zone was entirely appropriate. Zuckerberg (L) appeared in the stream alongside Facebook’s head of social virtual reality, Rachel Franklin (R)
The pair shared a ‘high five’, before discussing Facebook’s efforts to help with disaster relief. This includes a £1.1 million ($1.5 million) donation and sharing data with the Red Cross to build ‘population maps’
Rosaida Castr commented below the video on Zuckerberg’s Facebook page and said: ‘Is this a joke? The Puerto Ricans are suffering and you are using our tragedy for this?? Heartless billionaire.’
The reception on Twitter was equally frosty.
User Carl Franzen said: ‘Zuck showing off seriously weird VR hurricane disaster tourism on FB right now.’
Alex Jenkins tweeted: ‘Oof. The Facebook promotional event exploiting Puerto Rico as VR disaster porn is…not a good look. Adult leadership needed stat’
Rafael Balbi added: ‘Just watched the Zuckerberg video in Puerto Rico. This type of dude-bro passer by touristic voyeurism is disgusting’
Rafael Balbi added: ‘Just watched the Zuckerberg video in Puerto Rico. This type of dude-bro passer by touristic voyeurism is disgusting.’
And Alex Jenkins tweeted: ‘Oof. The Facebook promotional event exploiting Puerto Rico as VR disaster porn is…not a good look. Adult leadership needed stat.’
Facebook released Spaces in April after launching the platform at last year’s Oculus Connect conference.
Today’s broadcast comes just days before the fourth Oculus Connect, which starts on Wednesday in San Jose, California
Today’s broadcast comes just days before the fourth Oculus Connect, which starts on Wednesday in San Jose, California.
It suggests Facebook may be unveiling new plans for Spaces during a keynote speech by Zuckerberg, scheduled for 10am PT (1pm ET / 6pm BST) that day.
