View source for Second Life

{{Short description|2003 Online virtual world platform}}
{{About|the virtual community}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Second Life Viewer
| logo = Second Life Logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| developer = [[Linden Lab]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2003|06|23}}
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q106827|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| engine = Open-source ([[C++]], [[OpenGL]])
| platform = {{plainlist|
* [[Windows]]
* [[macOS]]
* [[Linux]] (in development)<ref>{{cite web |title=Linux Viewer |url=https://github.com/secondlife/viewer/issues/1149 |publisher=GitHub |access-date=2024-07-07 |date=2024-04-06}}</ref>
* [[iOS]] (beta)<ref name="mobilebeta">{{cite web |title=Second Life Mobile Beta |url=https://secondlife.com/mobile |publisher=Linden Lab |access-date=2024-07-07}}</ref>
* [[Android (operating system)|Android]] (beta)<ref name="mobilebeta"/>
}}
| license = [[LGPL-2.1-or-later]]
| latest release date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q106827|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q106827|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q106827|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| repo = {{URL|https://github.com/secondlife/viewer}}
| programming language = [[C++]]<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://github.com/secondlife/viewer
| title=SecondLife/viewer
| website=[[GitHub]]
| quote=C++: 91.4%
| access-date=September 19, 2023
}}</ref>
| language count = 12
| language footnote = <ref>{{cite web
| url=https://github.com/secondlife/viewer/blob/d454512050e636a19e4b7545515dea4f4b1bbf0d/indra/newview/skins/default/xui/en/panel_preferences_general.xml
| title=language_combobox
| website=[[GitHub]]
| access-date=19 September 2023
}}</ref>
| language = [[American English]], [[Chinese language|Chinese (China)]], [[Danish language|Danish]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Second Life Server
| developer = [[Linden Lab]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2003|06|23}}
| latest preview version = <!-- 17.01.27.323172 -->
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|2017|02|07}} -->
| programming language = {{plainlist|
* [[C++]]
* [[#Content|LSL]]<ref name="LSL">{{cite web
| url=https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/LSL_Portal
| title=LSL Portal - Second Life Wiki
| date=August 13, 2024
| quote=LSL (Linden Scripting Language) is the scripting language that gives behavior to Second Life primitives, objects, and avatars.
| access-date=February 21, 2025
}}</ref> / LSO<ref name="LSO">{{cite web
| url=https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/LSO
| title=LSO - Second Life Wiki
| date=May 25, 2016
| quote=Second Life has two LSL compilers, one which compiles into LSO bytecode and is executed by the simulator in the LSO VM, the other which compiles to CIL and is executed by the simulator in the Mono VM.
| access-date=September 19, 2023
}}</ref> (Script engine)
* [[Mono (software)|Mono]] (Script engine)<ref name="Mono">{{cite web
| url=https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Mono
| title=Mono - Second Life Wiki
| date=September 24, 2022
| quote="Mono for Second Life" refers to a simulator upgrade which can dramatically speed the running of scripts — especially calculation intensive ones.
| access-date=February 21, 2025
}}</ref><ref name="LSO"/>
* [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]] (Script engine / In Development)<ref name="Lua">{{cite web
| url=https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Lua_FAQ
| title=Lua FAQ - Second Life Wiki
| date=July 2, 2024
| quote=Luau was the only scripting runtime that fulfilled all of our requirements for a scripting engine within Second Life
| access-date=September 22, 2024
}}</ref>
* [[Python (programming language)|Python]]<!-- Used internally for various tasks such as upload verification -->
}}
| middleware = [[Havok (software)|Havok]]
| platform = [[Linux]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
}}

'''''Second Life''''' is a multiplayer [[virtual world]] that allows people to create an [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]] for themselves and then interact with other users and user-created content within a multi-user online environment. Developed for [[personal computers]] by the [[San Francisco]]-based firm [[Linden Lab]], it launched on June 23, 2003, and saw rapid growth for some years; in 2013 it had approximately one million regular users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lindenlab.com/releases/infographic-10-years-of-second-life |title=Infographic: 10 Years of Second Life |publisher=Linden Lab |date=2013-06-20 |access-date=2014-08-04}}</ref> Growth eventually stabilized, and by the end of 2017, the active user count had fallen to "between 800,000 and 900,000".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/10/returning-to-second-life/ |title=Returning to Second Life |website=Ars Technica |date=2017-10-23 |access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref> In many ways, ''Second Life'' is similar to [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game|massively multiplayer online role-playing video game]]s; nevertheless, Linden Lab is emphatic that their creation is not a game: "There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17538999/ns/technology_and_science-games/t/if-second-life-isnt-game-what-it/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610073943/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17538999/ns/technology_and_science-games/t/if-second-life-isnt-game-what-it |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 10, 2013 |title=If Second Life isn't a game, what is it? – Technology & science – Games – On the Level |publisher=NBC News |date=2007-12-03 |access-date=2014-08-01}}</ref>

The virtual world can be accessed freely via Linden Lab's own [[Client (computing)|client software]] or via alternative third-party viewers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://secondlife.com/support/downloads/ |title=Download the free Second Life viewer |access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Third_Party_Viewer_Directory |title=Third Party Viewer Directory |website=Second Life Wiki |access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> ''Second Life'' users, also called 'residents', create virtual representations of themselves, called ''[[Avatar (computing)|avatars]]'', and are able to interact with places, objects and other avatars. They can explore the world (known as the grid), meet other residents, socialize, participate in both individual and group activities, build, create, shop, and trade [[virtual goods|virtual property]] and services with one another.

The platform principally features 3D-based user-generated content. ''Second Life'' also has its own virtual currency, the [[Economy of Second Life|Linden Dollar]] (L$), which is exchangeable with real world currency.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/2013/06/23/second-life-turns-10-what-it-did-wrong-and-why-it-will-have-its-own-second-life/ |title=Second Life turns 10: what it did wrong, and why it may have its own second life |access-date=October 1, 2014 |date=2013-06-23 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006142357/https://gigaom.com/2013/06/23/second-life-turns-10-what-it-did-wrong-and-why-it-will-have-its-own-second-life/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mustips.com/second-life-create-virtual-world-imagined-stories/ |first=Nilakshi |last=Pathak |title=Second Life – Create your Virtual World with your Imagined Stories |date=July 29, 2017}}</ref> ''Second Life'' is intended for people ages 16 and over, with the exception of 13–15-year-old users, who are restricted to the ''Second Life'' region of a sponsoring institution (e.g., a school).<ref name="secondlife.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lindenlab.com/legal/second-life-terms-and-conditions |title=Terms and Conditions |website=Linden Lab}}</ref><ref name="Teens in Second Life">{{cite web |url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Teens_in_Second_Life|title=Teens in Second Life|date=February 9, 2012|access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:philip Rosedale in 2021 by Chris Michel 1d35908-4-26.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Philip Rosedale]], creator of ''Second Life'']]
[[Philip Rosedale]] formed Linden Lab in 1999<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hatmaker |first=Taylor |date=2022-01-13 |title=Second Life's creator is returning to advise the original metaverse company |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/13/second-life-philip-rosedale-returns-linden-lab-high-fidelity/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> with the intention of developing computer hardware to allow people to become immersed in a virtual world. In its earliest form, the company struggled to produce a commercial version of the hardware, known as "The Rig", which in prototype form was seen as a clunky steel contraption with computer monitors worn on shoulders.<ref>Au, Wagner James. ''The Making of Second Life'', pg. 19. New York: Collins. {{ISBN|978-0-06-135320-8}}.</ref> That vision changed into the software application Linden World, in which people participated in task-based games and socializing in a three-dimensional online environment.<ref name="lindenlab-pressrelease-20020211">{{cite web
 |url=http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/02_02_11
 |title=Linden Lab Debuts, Company Dedicated to 3D Entertainment
 |author=Linden Lab
 |date=February 11, 2002
 |access-date=June 10, 2009
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719210929/http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/02_02_11
 |archive-date=July 19, 2009
 |df=mdy-all
}}
</ref> That effort eventually transformed into the better-known, user-centered ''Second Life''.<ref name="lindenlab-pressrelease-20021030">{{cite web
 |url=http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/02_10_30
 |title=Linden Lab Announces Name of New Online World 'Second Life' And Availability of Beta Program
 |author=Linden Lab
 |date=October 30, 2002
 |access-date=June 10, 2009
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718215617/http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/02_10_30
 |archive-date=July 18, 2009
 |df=mdy-all
}}
</ref> Although he was familiar with the [[metaverse]] of [[Neal Stephenson]]'s novel ''[[Snow Crash]]'', Rosedale has said that his vision of virtual worlds predates that book, and that he conducted early virtual world experiments during his college years at the [[University of California, San Diego]], where he studied physics.<ref name="newyorktimes-philip-rosedale-answers-your-second-life-questions">{{cite news
|url=http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/philip-rosedale-answers-your-second-life-questions/?hp
|title=Philip Rosedale Answers Your Questions
|author=Dubner, Stephen
|newspaper=The New York Times
|date=December 13, 2007
|access-date=March 6, 2008
}}</ref>

''Second Life'' began to receive significant media attention in 2005 and 2006, including a cover story in ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' magazine featuring the virtual world and ''Second Life'' avatar [[Anshe Chung]].<ref name="businessweekmag-my-virtual-life">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm |title=My Virtual Life |work=Business Week |date=May 1, 2006 |access-date=January 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105191002/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm| archive-date=January 5, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By that time, Anshe Chung had become ''Second Life''{{'}}s poster child and symbol for the economic opportunities that the virtual world offers to its residents. At the same time, the service saw a period of exponential growth of its user base.

One of the principal developers, [[Cory Ondrejka]], was forced to resign as [[chief technology officer]] in December 2007, with Rosedale citing irreconcilable differences in the way the company was run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/upheaval-at-linden-lab-cory-ondrejka-out/ |title=Upheaval at Linden Lab: Cory Ondrejka out |publisher=CNET |date=December 11, 2007 |access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> Nevertheless, the platform continued to grow rapidly, and by January 2008, residents spent a total of 28,274,505 hours "inworld" and on average 38,000 residents were logged in at any moment. The maximum concurrency (number of avatars inworld) recorded was set at 88,200 in the first quarter of 2009.<ref>[https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/04/16/the-second-life-economy--first-quarter-2009-in-detail the-second-life-economy—first-quarter-2009-in-detail]. For the latest data, visit [http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php economy_stats], from which the quoted numbers were taken.</ref>

[[File:Second Life (4970408504).jpg|thumb|Headquarters of [[Linden Lab]], creator of ''Second Life'']]''Second Life'' was honored at the [[Technology & Engineering Emmy Award]]s for advancing the development of online sites with user-generated content in 2008, adding to the media attention. Rosedale accepted the award,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/tech_2k7_winners.html |title=Emmy Online |publisher=Emmyonline.tv |access-date=February 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921181619/http://emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/tech_2k7_winners.html |archive-date=September 21, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> although he had announced plans to step down from his position as Linden Lab CEO and to become chairman of [[Linden Lab]]'s board of directors instead in March 2008.<ref>{{cite news|first=Philip|last=Rosedale|title=Changing my Job|url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/03/14/changing-my-job/}}</ref> Rosedale announced [[Mark D. Kingdon|Mark Kingdon]] as the new CEO effective May 15, 2008.<ref name="InformationWeek-second-life-gets-new-CEO">{{cite news |last1=Wagner |first1=Mitch |date=April 22, 2008 |title=Second Life Gets New CEO |url=http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/04/linden_lab_name.html;jsessionid=DWV2SIFZXOYVXQE1GHRSKH4ATMY32JVN |access-date=November 6, 2009 |publisher=InformationWeek Business Technology Network}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}</ref> In 2010, Kingdon was replaced by Rosedale, who took over as interim CEO. After four months, Rosedale abruptly stepped down from the Interim CEO position. It was announced in October 2010 that Bob Komin, Linden Lab's chief financial officer and chief operating officer, would take over the CEO job for the immediate future.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2010/10/20/interim-linden-lab-ceo-steps-down.html |first=Patrick |last=Hoge |title=Interim Linden Lab CEO steps down |date=October 20, 2010}}</ref>

With the platform's failure to continue its high rate of growth after 2009, Linden Lab announced layoffs of 30% of its workforce in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/second-life-owner-linden-lab-to-lay-off-30-of-its-workers/19509989/|title='Second Life' Owner Linden Lab to Lay Off 30% of Its Workers|publisher=AOL Inc.|access-date=March 22, 2011}}</ref> Some 21.3&nbsp;million accounts were registered by this point, although the company did not make public any statistics regarding actual long-term consistent usage and numbers of dormant accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://secondlife.com/xmlhttp/secondlife.php |title=Current user metrics for Second Life |publisher=Secondlife.com |access-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref>

Despite speculation as to the actual size of the user base, ''Second Life'' continued as a commercial success. In 2015, ''Second Life'' users cashed out approximately US$60&nbsp;million and ''Second Life'' had an estimated GDP of US$500&nbsp;million, higher than some small countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-is-second-life-still-a-thing-gaming-virtual-reality/ |title=Why Is 'Second Life' Still a Thing? |website=Motherboard |language=en-us |access-date=2017-03-04 |date=2016-04-29}}</ref>

Recognizing improvements in computing power and particularly in computer graphics, [[Linden Lab]] began work on a successor to ''Second Life'', a VR experience called ''[[Sansar (video game)|Sansar]]'', launching a public beta in July 2017. Uptake was low and Linden Lab halted development in 2020 to focus their attention fully on ''Second Life''. The rights to ''Sansar''<nowiki/>'s assets were sold to Wookey Search Technologies, who are expected to continue development on the title without Linden Lab.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/24/second-life-maker-calls-it-quits-on-their-vr-follow-up-sansar/|title=Second Life-maker calls it quits on their VR follow-up|website=TechCrunch|date=March 25, 2020|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref> ''Second Life'', the usage of which peaked in the first decade of the 21st century, has been cited as the first example of the [[metaverse]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Niamh |title=A brief metaverse history: from where it started, to today |url=https://www.parkersoftware.com/blog/a-brief-metaverse-history-from-where-it-started-to-today/#:~:text=A%20huge%20part%20of%20metaverse,themselves%20in%20the%20digital%20realm. |website=Parker Software |access-date=17 August 2022 |date=25 March 2022 |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817112623/https://www.parkersoftware.com/blog/a-brief-metaverse-history-from-where-it-started-to-today/#:~:text=A%20huge%20part%20of%20metaverse,themselves%20in%20the%20digital%20realm. |url-status=dead}}</ref> a concept which has been taken up by other major corporations such as [[Facebook]] in 2021. As a notable precursor (which retains a small and loyal following), it provides several examples of virtual reality social issues and lessons learned.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59180273|title=Zuckerberg's metaverse: Lessons from Second Life|work=BBC News|date=November 5, 2021}}</ref>

== Classification ==
[[File:The Pilgrim's Dawn (Second Life).jpg|thumb|Landscape scenery from The Pilgrim's Dawn located in ''Second Life'']]
During a 2001 meeting with investors, Rosedale noticed that the participants were particularly responsive to the collaborative, creative potential of ''Second Life''. As a result, the initial objective-driven, gaming focus of ''Second Life'' was shifted to a more user-created, community-driven experience.<ref name="youtube-origin-of-second-life-and-its-relations-to-real-life">{{cite web
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t1XR-LrgyM
| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/0t1XR-LrgyM| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=The Origin of Second Life and its Relation to Real Life
|via=YouTube
|date=November 22, 2006
|access-date=March 6, 2008
}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

''Second Life''{{'}}s status as a [[virtual world]], a computer game, or a [[talker]], is frequently debated.{{who|date=June 2013}} Unlike traditional computer games, ''Second Life'' does not have a designated objective, nor traditional game play mechanics or rules. It can also be argued that ''Second Life'' is a multi-user virtual world, because its virtual world facilitates interaction between multiple users. As it does not have any stipulated goals, it is irrelevant to talk about winning or losing in relation to ''Second Life''. Likewise, unlike a traditional talker{{Vague|date=May 2015}}, ''Second Life'' contains an extensive world that can be explored and interacted with, and it can be used purely as a creative tool set if the user so chooses. In March 2006, while speaking at Google TechTalks,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allreadable.com/68357nm1 |title=Glimpse inside a metaverse: the virtual world of Second Life |work=Readable |access-date=August 11, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213214/http://www.allreadable.com/68357nm1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rosedale said: "So, we don't see this as a game. We see it as a platform."

''Second Life'' used to offer two main grids: one for adults (18+) and one for teens. In August 2010, Linden Lab closed the teen grid due to operating costs. Since then, users 16 and over can sign up for a free account.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Teens_in_Second_Life |title=Linden Lab Official:Teens in Second Life |website=Second Life Wiki |publisher=[[Linden Lab]] |date=February 8, 2012 |access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> Other limited accounts are available for educators who use ''Second Life'' with younger students.

There are three activity-based classifications, called "Ratings", for sims in ''Second Life'':
:# General (formerly ''PG'') – no extreme [[violence]] or [[nudity]]
:# Moderate (formerly ''Mature'') – some violence, [[swearing]], adult situations, nudity
:# Adult – may contain overt [[sexual activity]], [[nudity]], and [[violence]]

{{As of|2024|10}}, live streaming service [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] lists Second Life as a 'prohibited game' which cannot be streamed on the service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Twitch Help Portal: List of Prohibited Games |url=https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/list-of-prohibited-games?language=en_US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241015204429/https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/list-of-prohibited-games?language=en_US |archive-date=2024-10-15 |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=twitch.tv}}</ref>

== Residents and avatars ==
[[File:Second Life 11th Birthday Live Drax Files Radio Hour.jpg|thumb|Several avatars together]]
There is no charge for creating a ''Second Life'' account or for making use of the world for any period of time. Linden Lab reserves the right to charge for the creation of large numbers of multiple accounts for a single person (5 per household, 2 per 24 hours)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Alt_Account_FAQ |title=Alt Account FAQ |publisher=Linden Research |access-date=September 2, 2010}}</ref> but at present does not do so. A Premium membership (US$11.99 monthly, US$32.97 quarterly, or US$99 annually) extends access to an increased level of technical support, and also pays an automatic stipend of L$300/week into the member's avatar account, and after 45 days that resident will receive a L$700 bonus, making it L$1,000 for that week. This amount has decreased since the original stipend of L$500, which is still paid to older accounts. Certain accounts created during an earlier period may receive L$400. This stipend, if changed into USD, means that the actual cost for the benefit of extended tech support for an annual payment of US$72 is only about US$14, depending on the currency exchange rates. However, the vast majority of casual users of ''Second Life'' do not upgrade beyond the free "basic" account.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

Avatars may take any form users choose (human, animal, vegetable, mineral, or a combination thereof) or residents may choose to resemble themselves as they are in real life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weburbanist.com/2007/06/17/top-3-look-alike-avatars-and-people-from-second-life-to-real-life/ |title=Second Life Avatars and their Real Life |publisher=Web Urbanist |access-date=June 18, 2007 |date=2007-06-17}}</ref> They may choose even more abstract forms, given that almost every aspect of an avatar is fully customizable. ''Second Life'' culture consists of many activities and behaviors that are also present in real life. A single resident account may have only one avatar at a time, although the appearance of this avatar can change between as many different forms as the Resident wishes. Avatar forms, like almost everything else in Second Life, can be either created by the user, or bought pre-made. A single person may also have multiple accounts, and thus appear to be multiple Residents (a person's multiple accounts are referred to as ''[[alternate character]]'' (''alts'')).{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

[[File:SL Bicycles.jpg|thumb|Riding bicycles is one of the forms of transportation in ''Second Life''.]]
Avatars can travel via walking, running, vehicular access, flying, or teleportation. Because ''Second Life'' is such a vast virtual world, teleportation is used when avatars wish to travel instantly and efficiently. Once they reach their destination, they may travel in more conventional means at various speeds.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

Avatars can communicate via local chat, group chat, global instant messaging (known as IM), and voice (public, private and group). Chatting is used for localized public conversations between two or more avatars, and is visible to any avatar within a given distance. IMs are used for private conversations, either between two avatars, or among the members of a group, or even between objects and avatars. Unlike chatting, IM communication does not depend on the participants being within a certain distance of each other. As of version 1.18.1.2 (2007-Aug-02), voice chat, both local and IM, was also available. Instant messages may optionally be sent to a Resident's email when the Resident is logged off, although message length is limited to 4096 bytes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/LlEmail |title=LlEmail |website=Second Life Wiki |publisher=[[Linden Lab]] |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref>

Identities in ''Second Life'' can relate to the users' personality or creating their own character. It is based on their decisions on how to express themselves. Most avatars are human, but they can choose to be vampires or animals. Sometimes, what they choose does not relate to their offline selves.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=Anna |editor1-last=Peachey |editor2-first=Mark |editor2-last=Childs |title=Reinventing ourselves : contemporary concepts of identity in virtual worlds |year=2011 |publisher=Springer |location=London |isbn=978-085729-360-2 |author-link=Avatars and Virtual Worlds |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=48P5tVhoWaIC&q=Reinventing+ourselves+:+contemporary+concepts+of+identity+in+virtual+worlds |access-date=2013-12-05}}</ref>

In ''Coming of Age in Second Life: An Anthropologist Explores the Virtually Human'', anthropologist [[Tom Boellstorff]] notes that the interface of ''Second Life'' is designed with the purpose of disconnecting a player's virtual identity from their physical identity in mind.<ref name=":0"/> As of 2015 ''Second Life'' has made it possible to display one's legal name in the player's profile or as their screen name, but when Boellstorff first published the book in 2008 users were required to select a last name from a pre-determined list of options. Boellstorff describes this mentality as being in direct contrast to the one held by other mainstream social media websites, where anonymity is shunned and users are encouraged to make the link between their online and physical presence clear.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

== Content ==
[[File:Rural Princess (Second Life).jpg|thumb|Many different clothes created by users can be purchased in ''Second Life''.]]
The ability to create content and shape the ''Second Life'' world is one of the key features that separate this from online games. Built into the software is a [[3D modeling]] tool based on simple geometric shapes that allows residents to build virtual objects. There is also a [[Procedural programming|procedural]] scripting language, Linden Scripting Language (LSL),<ref name="LSL"/> which can be used to add interactivity to objects. Sculpted prims ("sculpties"), [[Polygon mesh|3D mesh]], textures for clothing or other objects, animations, and gestures can be created using external software and imported. The ''Second Life'' terms of service provide that users retain copyright for any content they create, and the server and client provide simple [[digital rights management]] (DRM) functions.<ref name="secondlife.com"/><ref name="lawvibe">{{Cite web|url=http://lawvibe.com/reachworks-securevend-makes-second-life-drm-can-it-stop-content-theft/|title=ReachWorks SecureVend Makes Second Life DRM: Can It Stop Content Theft?|work=Law Vibe|access-date=September 5, 2015|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019135549/http://lawvibe.com/reachworks-securevend-makes-second-life-drm-can-it-stop-content-theft/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SecureVend">{{Cite web|url=http://reachworks.reachisles.com/?page_id=3|title=SecureVend™|work=ReachWorks|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106225517/http://reachworks.reachisles.com/?page_id=3|archive-date=November 6, 2015|access-date=September 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> However, Linden Lab changed their terms of service in August 2013 to be able to use user-generated content for any purpose.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lindenlab.com/tos#tos2|title=Terms of Service|publisher=Linden Lab|access-date=2014-08-01}}</ref> The new terms of service prevent users from using textures from third-party texture services, as some of them pointed out explicitly.<ref name="Renderosity Bans Its Products from Second Life">{{cite web|url=http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2013/09/renderosity-bans-second-life-over-tos.html|title=Renderosity Bans Its Products from Second Life – Concern Over Linden Lab's New Draconian ToS Continues|author=Au, Wagner James|date=September 26, 2013|access-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Second Life}}
[[File:An avatar in the virtual world Second Life.png|thumb|An [[avatar (computing)|avatar]] in the virtual world ''Second Life'']]
[[File:User generated content in the virtual world Second Life.png|thumb|[[User-generated content]] in the virtual world ''Second Life'']]
''Second Life'' has an internal economy and closed-loop virtual token called the [[Economy of Second Life|Linden Dollar]] (L$). L$ can be used to buy, sell, rent or trade land or goods and services with other users. The "Linden Dollar" is a closed-loop virtual token for use only within the Second Life platform. Linden Dollars have no monetary value and are not redeemable for monetary value from Linden Lab. However, the presence of a currency exchange has led to the Linden Dollar being recognised as a centralized virtual currency, a fiat currency, or property.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Is the Linden Dollar? |url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/linden-dollar.asp |website=Investopedia |access-date=13 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> A resident with a surplus of Linden Dollars earned via a Second Life business or experiential play can request to refund their Linden Dollar surplus to PayPal. Linden Lab reports that the ''Second Life'' economy generated US$3,596,674 in economic activity during the month of September 2005,<ref name="technologyreviewdotcom">{{cite web|
url=http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16023&ch=biztech|
title=Virtual Economics|
author=Reiss, Spencer|
date=December 2005 – January 2006|
access-date=2006-11-24}}</ref> and in September 2006 ''Second Life'' was reported to have a GDP of $64&nbsp;million.<ref name="popscidotcom-your-2ndlife-is-ready">{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/7ba1af8f3812d010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd/3.html
 |title=Your Second Life Is Ready
 |author=Newitz, Annalee
 |magazine=[[Popular Science]]
 |date=September 2006
 |access-date=2006-11-24
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116064009/http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/7ba1af8f3812d010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd/3.html
 |archive-date=November 16, 2006
 |df=mdy-all
|author-link=Annalee Newitz
}}</ref> In 2009, the total size of the ''Second Life'' economy grew 65% to US$567&nbsp;million, about 25% of the entire U.S. virtual goods market. Gross resident earnings are US$55&nbsp;million in 2009 – 11% growth over 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2010/01/19/2009-end-of-year-second-life-economy-wrap-up-including-q4-economy-in-detail|title=Second Life economy totals $567 million US dollars in 2009 – 65% growth over 2008|access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Linden Lab released an info graphic that showed that over 10 years $3.2&nbsp;billion in transactions for virtual goods had exchanged between ''Second Life'' residents, with an average of 1.2&nbsp;million daily transactions.<ref name="lindenlab.com">{{cite web|url=http://lindenlab.com/releases/infographic-10-years-of-second-life |title=Infographic: 10 Years of Second Life|date=2013-06-20 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref>

There is a high level of entrepreneurial activity in ''Second Life''. Residents of ''Second Life'' are able to create virtual objects and other content. ''Second Life'' is unique in that users retain all the rights to their content which means they can use ''Second Life'' to distribute and sell their creations, with 2.1&nbsp;million items listed on its online marketplace.<ref name="lindenlab.com"/> At its height circa 2006, hundreds of thousands of dollars were changing hands daily as residents created and sold a wide variety of virtual commodities. ''Second Life'' also quickly became profitable due to the selling and renting of virtual real estate. 2006 also saw ''Second Life''{{'}}s first real-world millionaire; Ailin Graef, better known as [[Anshe Chung]] (her avatar), converted an initial investment of US$9.95 into over one million dollars over the course of two and a half years. She built her fortune primarily by buying, selling, and renting virtual real estate.<ref name="nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2009/03/million.html">{{cite web|url=http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2009/03/million.html|title=Top Second Life Entrepreneur Cashing Out US$1.7 Million Yearly; Furnishings, Events Management Among Top Earners|first=Wagner J.|last=Au|date=March 24, 2009|access-date=March 30, 2009}}</ref>

Major tech corporations have tried to use ''Second Life'' to market products or services to ''Second Life''{{'}}s tech-savvy audience. IBM, for example, purchased 12 islands within ''Second Life'' for virtual training and simulations of key business processes, but has since moved on to other platforms due to maintenance costs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Costly mistake |url=https://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2012/03/second-life-enterprise-was-a-costly-mistake/ |website=Hypergrid Business |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=July 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=IBM dives into Second Life |url=https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/os-social-secondlife/index.html |website=IBM developerWorks |access-date=July 21, 2018|date=2010-01-19}}</ref> Others, like musicians, podcasters, and news organizations (including [[CNET]], [[Reuters]], [[NPR]]'s ''[[The Infinite Mind]]'', and the [[BBC]]), have all had a presence within ''Second Life''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Second-Life |title=What is Second Life? - Definition from WhatIs.com |publisher=Whatis.techtarget.com |access-date=2014-08-01}}</ref>

[[File:SL Mini.jpg|thumb|A car (that looks like a [[Mini Coupé and Roadster|Mini Roadster]]) cruising near an airport]]Virtual goods include buildings, vehicles, devices of all kinds, animations, clothing, skin, hair, jewelry, [[flora]] and [[fauna]], and works of art. Services include business management, entertainment, and custom content creation (which can be broken up into the following six categories: building, texturing, scripting, animating, art direction, and the position of producer/project funder). L$ can be purchased using US dollars and other local currencies on the LindeX exchange provided by Linden Lab. Customer USD wallets obtained from Linden Dollar sales on the Lindex are most commonly used to pay ''Second Life''{{'}}s own subscription and tier fees; only a relatively small number of users earn enough profit to request a refund to PayPal. According to figures published by Linden Lab, about 64,000 users made a profit in ''Second Life'' in February 2009, of whom 38,524 made less than US$10, while 233 made more than US$5000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://secondlife.com/statistics/economy-data.php |title=Second Life Economic Data |publisher=Secondlife.com |access-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref> Profits are derived from selling virtual goods, renting land, and a broad range of services.

== Technology ==
[[File:Male avatar from Second Life Desert Wilderness.png|thumb|Male avatar in Desert Wilderness]]
''Second Life'' comprises the ''viewer'' (also known as the ''client'') executing on the user's personal computer, and several thousand servers operated by Linden Lab.

=== Client ===
Linden Lab provides official viewers for the operating systems [[Windows]], [[macOS]], and most distributions of [[Linux]] where the more known [[ChromeOS]] has been excluded so far. The viewer renders 3D graphics using [[OpenGL]] technology. The viewer source code was released under the GPL in 2007<ref name="lindenlabdotcom-press-release-01-08-07">{{cite web
 |url=http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/01_08_07
 |title=Linden Lab To Open Source Second Life Software
 |publisher=[[Linden Lab]]
 |date=January 8, 2007
 |access-date=January 8, 2007
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304002548/http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/01_08_07
 |archive-date=March 4, 2008
 |df=mdy-all
}}</ref><ref name="lindenblog-embracing-the-inevitable">{{cite web
|url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/01/08/embracing-the-inevitable/
|title=Embracing the Inevitable
|author=Phoenix Linden
|publisher=[[Linden Lab]]
|date=January 8, 2007
|access-date=January 8, 2007
}}</ref> and moved to the LGPL in 2010.<ref name="lindenblog-what-does-the-lgpl-mean-for-secondlife-viewers">{{cite web
|url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Tools-and-Technology/What-Does-the-LGPL-Mean-for-Second-Life-Viewers/ba-p/664746
|title=What Does the LGPL Mean for Second Life Viewers?
|author=Oz Linden
|publisher=[[Linden Lab]]
|date=July 9, 2007
|access-date=July 9, 2010
}}</ref>

There are now several mature third-party viewer projects, the most popular being Firestorm, that contain features not available in the Linden Lab 'Official' client, target other platforms or cater to specialist and accessibility needs.<ref name="third-party-viewer-directory">{{cite web
|url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Third_Party_Viewer_Directory
|title=Third Party Viewer Directory
|author=Oz Linden
|publisher=[[Linden Lab]]
|date=August 11, 2013
|access-date=November 8, 2013
}}</ref> The main focus of third party development is exploring new ideas and working with Linden Lab to deliver new functionality.<ref name="new-open-source-project-to-improve-graphics-rendering">{{cite web
|url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Tools-and-Technology/New-Open-Source-Project-to-Improve-Graphics-Rendering/ba-p/1637559
|title=Open Source Project Improve Graphics Rendering
|author=Oz Linden
|publisher=[[Linden Lab]]
|date=August 16, 2012
|access-date=November 8, 2013
}}</ref>

An independent project, libopenmetaverse,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lib.openmetaverse.org/wiki/Main_Page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406085259/http://lib.openmetaverse.org/wiki/Main_Page |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2009 |title=libopenmetaverse |publisher=libopenmetaverse.org |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref> offers a function library for interacting with ''Second Life'' servers. libopenmetaverse has been used to create non-graphic third party viewers.

There are several ''Alternate Viewers'' published by Linden Lab used for software testing by volunteers for early access to upcoming projects.<ref name="lindenwiki-alternate-viewers">{{cite web
|url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Alternate_Viewers
|title=Alternate Viewers
|author=Oz Linden
|date=May 21, 2019
|publisher=[[Linden Lab]]}}</ref> Some of these clients only function on the "beta grid" consisting of a limited number of regions running various releases of unstable test server code.

=== Server ===
[[File:Winter landscape in Second Life.png|thumb|Winter landscape in ''Second Life'']]
Each full region (an area of 256×256 meters) in the ''Second Life'' "grid" runs on a single dedicated core of a multi-core server. Homestead regions share 3 regions per core and Openspace Regions share 4 regions per core, running proprietary software on [[Debian]] [[Linux]]. These servers run scripts in a region, and provide communication between avatars and objects present in a region.

Every item in the ''Second Life'' universe is referred to as an ''asset''. This includes the shapes of basic 3D polygon objects formally known as ''Primitive Mesh'' (commonly known as ''primitives'' or ''prims'' for short), the digital images referred to as ''textures'' that decorate primitives, digitized audio clips, avatar shape and appearance, avatar skin textures, LSL scripts, information written on notecards, and so on. Each asset is referenced with a universally unique identifier or ''[[UUID]]''.<ref name="sl-wiki-uuid">{{cite web
|url=https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Key
|title=Key
|publisher=[[Linden Lab]]
|date=August 25, 2007
|access-date=October 1, 2007
}}</ref>

Assets are stored on [[Isilon Systems]] storage clusters,<ref name="isilon">{{cite web|author=Ambrose, Frank|url=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/01/12/second-life-grid-update-from-fj-linden|title=Second Life Grid Update from FJ Linden|access-date=January 20, 2009|date=January 12, 2009}}</ref> comprising all data that has ever been created by anyone who has been in the ''Second Life'' world. Infrequently used assets are offloaded to [[Amazon S3|S3]] bulk storage.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ambrose, Frank|url=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/technology/blog/2009/03/04/the-state-of-the-grid|access-date=March 4, 2009|title=The State of the Grid|date=March 4, 2009}}</ref> {{As of|2007|12}}, the total storage was estimated to consume 100 [[terabyte]]s of server capacity.<ref name="capacity">{{cite news |author=Rosedale, Philip |title=Philip Rosedale Answers Your Second Life Questions |date=December 13, 2007 |url=http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/philip-rosedale-answers-your-second-life-questions/ |access-date=December 18, 2007 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The asset servers function independently of the region simulators, though the region simulators act as a proxy for the client, request object data from the asset servers when a new object loads into the simulator.<ref>{{cite web |title=AssetServer |url=http://opensimulator.org/wiki/AssetServer |website=Open Simulator |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref> Region simulators areas are commonly known as ''sims'' by residents.

Each server instance runs a physics simulation to manage the collisions and interactions of all objects in that region. Objects can be nonphysical and non-moving, or actively physical and movable. Complex shapes may be linked together in groups of up to 256 separate primitives. Additionally, each player's avatar is treated as a physical object so that it may interact with physical objects in the world. {{As of|2014|7|9}}, ''Second Life'' simulators use the ''[[Havok (software)|Havok]] 2011.2'' physics engine for all in-world dynamics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Release_Notes/Second_Life_Server/11#11.11.09.244706_2 |title=Release Notes/Second Life Server/11 |publisher=Linden Lab|date=September 2011 |access-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref> This engine is capable of simulating thousands of physical objects at once.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2779779276874540721 |title=Second Life Havok 4 – no lag with 2000–3400 physical prims |access-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref>

Linden Lab pursues the use of [[open standard]]s technologies, and uses [[free software|free]] and [[open source software]] such as [[Apache HTTP Server|Apache]], [[MySQL]], [[Squid (software)|Squid]] and [[Linux]].<ref name="informationweek-open-doors-to-innovation">{{cite magazine|
url=http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=172300923&tid=5979%2C5989|
title=Open Doors To Innovation|
author=Greenemeier, Larry |
magazine=[[InformationWeek]]|
date=October 17, 2005|
access-date=2006-11-14}}</ref> The plan is to move everything to open standards by [[standardization|standardizing]] the ''Second Life'' protocol. [[Cory Ondrejka]], former CTO<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2007/12/12/second_lifes_cto_resigns/|title=Second Life CTO Resigns |work=The Boston Globe |first=Rachel |last=Konrad |date=December 12, 2007}}</ref> of ''Second Life'', stated in 2006 that a while after everything has been standardized, both the client and the server will be released as free and open source software.<ref name="lugradio-episode-42">{{cite web|
url=http://www.lugradio.org/episodes/42|
title=LugRadio Episode 42 – I'm an excellent driver|
publisher=[[LugRadio]]|
date=January 16, 2006|
access-date=2006-11-24}}</ref>

In January 2021, Linden Lab completed the migration of all of its services and databases to [[Amazon Web Services|AWS]] servers.<ref>{{cite web |title=2021 Update: Life in the Cloud |url=https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/6922-2021-update-life-in-the-cloud/ |website=Second Life Community |date=January 5, 2021 |publisher=Linden Lab |access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref>

=== OpenSimulator ===
{{Main|OpenSimulator}}

In January 2007, OpenSimulator was founded as an [[open-source software|open-source]] simulator project. The aim of this project is to develop a full open-source server software for ''Second Life'' clients. OpenSIM is [[BSD]] Licensed and it is written in [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] and can run under [[Mono (software)|Mono]] environment. From 2008, alternative grids began to emerge and many of these allow cross visits from other grids through the hypergrid protocol<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.slhungary.hu/e107_plugins/links_page/links.php |title=SL Hungary: Links / All Links |publisher=En.slhungary.hu |access-date=October 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220215909/http://en.slhungary.hu/e107_plugins/links_page/links.php |archive-date=February 20, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> using OpenSimulator.

== Applications ==
=== Arts ===
{{Main|Arts in Second Life}}
[[File:Virtual concert in Second Life.png|thumb|Virtual concert in ''Second Life'']]
''Second Life'' residents express themselves creatively through virtual world adaptations of art exhibits, live music,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://songularity.org/blog/category/artist/|title=Second Life Musicians|publisher=songularity.org|access-date=October 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002043301/http://songularity.org/blog/category/artist/|archive-date=October 2, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> live theater<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://secondlife.com/destination/samandiriel|title=Samandiriel|website=Second Life}}</ref> and [[machinima]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.48hourfilm.com/en/machinima/|title=The 48 Hour Film Project Machinima|publisher=48HFP|access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> and other art forms.

=== Competitive entertainment ===
A wide variety of recreational activities, both competitive and non-competitive, take place on the ''Second Life'' Grid, including both traditional sports<ref>{{cite web |title=Sports |url=https://secondlife.com/destinations/sports |website=Second Life |access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> and video game–like scenarios.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Games |url=https://secondlife.com/destinations/games/generalgames |website=Second Life |access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Second Life}}
[[File:Second Life Demo (1757533489).jpg|thumb|Demonstrating ''Second Life'' for audience in Brisbane]]
''Second Life'' is used as a platform for education by many institutions, such as colleges, universities, libraries and government entities. Since 2008, the University of San Martin de Porres of Peru<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usmpvirtual.edu.pe/|title=usmpvirtual.edu.pe|access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> has been developing ''Second Life'' prototypes of Peruvian archeological buildings, and training teachers for this new paradigm of education. The [[West Virginia University]] (WVU) Department of Special Education has used ''Second Life'' widely in education, and it provided teaching certification and certificates of degree in seven different distance education programs.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hartley|first1=Melissa D.|last2=Ludlow|first2=Barbara L.|last3=Duff|first3=Michael C.|s2cid=146183533|year=2015|title=Second Life®: A 3D virtual immersive environment for teacher preparation courses in a distance education program|journal= Rural Special Education Quarterly|volume=34|issue=3|pages=21–25|doi=10.1177/875687051503400305 |issn=8756-8705}}</ref> WVU started a pilot program in the college's computer lab in spring 2011.

=== Embassies ===
[[File:Ministerstwo Srodowiska w second Life by Servicetek.jpg|thumb|The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Poland is located virtually in ''Second Life''.]]
The [[Maldives]] was the first country to open an embassy in ''Second Life''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/05/23/the-maldives-virtual-embassy/|title=Yahoo!|website=secondlifeinsider.com|access-date=July 23, 2007|archive-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513151011/http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/05/23/the-maldives-virtual-embassy/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Latest news & breaking headlines | url=http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article1832158.ece | access-date=July 23, 2007 | archive-date=August 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084556/http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article1832158.ece | url-status=dead }}</ref> The Maldives' embassy is located on ''Second Life's'' "Diplomacy Island", where visitors will be able to talk face-to-face with a computer-generated ambassador about visas, trade and other issues. "Diplomacy Island" also hosts Diplomatic Museum and Diplomatic Academy. The Island is established by DiploFoundation as part of the Virtual Diplomacy Project.<ref>[http://www.diplomacy.edu/DiplomacyIsland/default.asp "Diplomacy Island in Second Life"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107033059/http://www.diplomacy.edu/DiplomacyIsland/default.asp |date=November 7, 2009}}, Diplomatic Quarter, Virtual Diplomatic Academy, Internet Governance Village</ref>

In May 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/05/23/the-maldives-virtual-embassy/ |title=SecondLife Insider confirmed |publisher=Secondlifeinsider.com |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513151011/http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/05/23/the-maldives-virtual-embassy/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Sweden]] became the second country to open an embassy in ''Second Life''. Run by the [[Swedish Institute]], the embassy serves to promote Sweden's image and culture, rather than providing any real or virtual services.<ref name="swedendotse-sl-embasy">{{cite news|title=Sweden to set up embassy in Second Life|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=Sweden.se|date=January 26, 2007}}</ref> The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, [[Carl Bildt]], stated on his blog that he hoped he would get an invitation to the grand opening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlbildt.wordpress.com/2007/01/30/heja-olle-wastberg/|title=Carl Bildt: Heja Olle Wästberg!|first=Carl|last=Bildt|date=January 30, 2007
|access-date=February 13, 2007|author-link=Carl Bildt}}</ref>

In September 2007, Publicis Group announced the project of creating a [[Serbia]] island as a part of a project Serbia Under Construction. The project is officially supported by Ministry of Diaspora of Serbian Government. It was stated that the island will feature the [[Nikola Tesla Museum]], the [[Guča Trumpet Festival]] and the [[Exit (festival)|Exit Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metaverse.acidzen.org/2007/serbia-entering-second-life |title=Serbia Is Entering Second Life |publisher=Metaverse.acidzen.org |access-date=October 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724222249/http://metaverse.acidzen.org/2007/serbia-entering-second-life |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was also planned on opening a virtual info terminals of Ministry of Diaspora.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondlifeupdate.com/2007/11/19/serbia-enters-second-life/ |title=Serbia Enters Second Life &#124; Second Life Update |date=November 19, 2007 |publisher=Secondlifeupdate.com |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref>

In December 2007, [[Estonia]] became the third country to open an embassy in ''Second Life''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://saatkond.typepad.com/news/2007/12/it-is-open.html |title=Estonian SL Embassy News: It Is Open! |publisher=Saatkond.typepad.com |date=December 4, 2007 |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Estonia/140/111/57/ |title=SLurl: Location-Based Linking in Second Life |publisher=Slurl.com |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref> In September 2007, [[Colombia]] and [[Serbia]] opened embassies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aibo.typepad.com/sunverseuk/2007/11/serbia-has-big.html |title=SERBIA has big plans for Second Life |publisher=Aibo.typepad.com |date=November 20, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629111541/http://aibo.typepad.com/sunverseuk/2007/11/serbia-has-big.html |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> As of 2008, [[Macedonia (country)|North Macedonia]] and the Philippines have opened embassies in the "Diplomatic Island" of ''Second Life''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/05/23/the-maldives-virtual-embassy/ |title=The Maldives Virtual Embassy |publisher=Secondlifeinsider.com |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513151011/http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/05/23/the-maldives-virtual-embassy/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, [[Albania]] opened an embassy in the Nova Bay location. SL Israel was inaugurated in January 2008 in an effort to showcase Israel to a global audience, though without any connection to official Israeli diplomatic channels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200308085985&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708150324/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1200308085985&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-08|title=Second Life Israel, The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> In 2008, [[Malta]] opened an embassy on ''Second Life''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/welcome-to-malta-in-second-life.200186|title=Welcome to Malta in Second Life|website=The Times|location=Malta|date=March 13, 2008}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[File:AnglicancathedralofSecondLife.png|thumb|The Anglican Cathedral of Second Life]]
Religious organizations have also begun to open virtual meeting places within ''Second Life''. In early 2007, [[LifeChurch.tv]], a Christian church headquartered in [[Edmond, Oklahoma]], and with eleven campuses in the US, created "Experience Island" and opened its twelfth campus in ''Second Life''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18789168 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928050428/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18789168 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |title=Give me that online religion |publisher=NBC News |date=May 21, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref> In July 2007, an Anglican cathedral<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slangcath.wordpress.com |title=The Anglican Church in Second Life |publisher=Slangcath.wordpress.com |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref> was established in ''Second Life''; Mark Brown, the head of the group that built the cathedral, noted that there is "an interest in what I call depth, and a moving away from light, fluffy Christianity".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/06/anglican_second.html |title=Anglican Second Life Inhabitants Construct Medieval Cathedral |magazine=Wired |date=June 19, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2010 |first=Miguel |last=Lopez}}</ref>

The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Second Life was established in 2006. Services have been held regularly, making the FUUCSL Congregation one of the longest-running active congregations in ''Second Life''.<ref>[http://www.fuucsl.org/wp/ First UU Congregation of Second Life]. Fuucsl.org. Retrieved 2013-09-21.</ref>

The Egyptian-owned news website [[Islam Online]] has purchased land in ''Second Life'' to allow [[Muslims]] and non-Muslims alike to perform the ritual of [[Hajj]] in virtual reality form, obtaining experience before actually making the pilgrimage to [[Mecca]] in person.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641297721 |title=Second Life Visit To Mecca for the Hajj &#124;Sky News&#124;Technology |publisher=Sky News |access-date=March 8, 2009}}</ref>

''Second Life'' also offers several groups that cater to the needs and interests of [[humanist]]s, [[atheist]]s, [[agnostic]]s, and [[Freethought|freethinkers]]. One of the most active groups is SL Humanism which has been holding weekly discussion meetings inside ''Second Life'' every Sunday since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slhumanismgroup.blogspot.com|title=The SL Humanism Group|date=2007-10-28}}</ref>

=== Relationships ===
[[Romantic relationship]]s are common in ''Second Life'', including some couples who have married online.<ref>{{cite news |title=Virtual world, real emotions: Relationships in Second Life |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/12/second.life.relationship.irpt/index.html |access-date=March 21, 2011 |newspaper=CNN iReport |date=December 15, 2008}}</ref> The social engagement offered by the online environment helps those who might be socially isolated. In addition, [[Sexual intercourse|sex]] is often encountered.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wagner |first=Mitch |title=Sex in Second Life |url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/cloud-computing/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199701944 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213140743/http://www.informationweek.com/news/cloud-computing/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199701944 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 13, 2010 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |newspaper=InformationWeek |date=May 26, 2007}}</ref> However, to access the adult sections requires age verification.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maturity Ratings – Second Life |url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Maturity-ratings/ta-p/700119|access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref> There are also large [[BDSM]] and [[Gorean]] communities.<ref>{{cite news|last=Welles|first=Destiny|title=BDSM blossoms in Second Life|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/23/the_accidental_mistress/|access-date=March 21, 2011|newspaper=The Register|date=January 23, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bardzell |first1=Shaowen|author1-link=Shaowen Bardzell |last2=Odom |first2=William |date=August 2008 |title=The Experience of Embodied Space in Virtual Worlds: An Ethnography of a Second Life Community |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240696933 |journal=[[Space and Culture]] |publisher=[[SAGE Journals]] |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=239–259 |doi=10.1177/1206331208319148 |issn=1206-3312 |lccn=99301909 |oclc=535496255 |via=[[ResearchGate]]|citeseerx=10.1.1.472.686 |s2cid=146711299}}</ref>

''Second Life'' relationships have been taken from virtual online relationships into personal, real-world relationships. Booperkit Moseley and Shukran Fahid were possibly the first couple to meet in ''Second Life'' and then marry in real life. Booperkit travelled to the United States to meet Shukran and he returned to England with her after one week. They married in 2006 and had twin boys in 2009. Some couples meet online, form friendships, and eventually move to finding one another in the real world.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abbott |first1=Milae |title=When SecondLife Relationships Become Real |url=http://www.slenquirer.com/2014/05/when-second-life-relationships-become.html |website=SLE News Source |access-date=28 November 2019 |date=20 May 2014}}</ref> Some even have their weddings on ''Second Life'', and in a real-world setting.<ref>{{cite news|title=Virtual World, real emotions: Relationships in Second Life |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2008-12-12/living/second.life.relationship.irpt_1_virtual-world-wedding-latte?_s=PM:LIVING|publisher=CNN Living |access-date=May 7, 2012 |date=March 12, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402032330/http://articles.cnn.com/2008-12-12/living/second.life.relationship.irpt_1_virtual-world-wedding-latte?_s=PM:LIVING |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>[[File:Fun ƬƖMΣ's In New Toulouse (11695905023).jpg|center|frameless|600x600px]]Relationships in virtual worlds have an added dimension compared to other [[social media]], because avatars give a feeling of proximity making the voyeur experience more intense than simply a textual encounter. The complexities of those encounters depend on the engagement levels of the people behind the avatars, whether they are engaging disassociatively (entertainment only), immersively (as if the avatar was them), or augmentatively (meaning they engage for a real-life purpose).<ref>Clift, Pamala, "Virgin′s Handbook on Virtual Relationships", Chapt.6, 2012 (CreateSpace){{ISBN|1463666993}}</ref>

=== Science ===
''Second Life'' is used for scientific research, collaboration, and data visualization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journal.chemistrycentral.com/content/3/1/14 |title=Chemistry in Second Life |publisher=Journal.chemistrycentral.com |access-date=February 19, 2010}}</ref> Examples include [[SciLands]], American Chemical Society's ACS Island, Genome, Virginia Tech's SLATE, and Nature Publishing Group's Elucian Islands Village.

=== Social network ===
''Second Life'' can be a real-time, immersive social space for people including those with physical or mental disabilities that impair their lives, who often find comfort and security interacting through anonymous avatars. (Some academics believe using ''Second Life'' might even help improve motor ability for people with [[Parkinson's disease]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/2013/06/23/second-life-turns-10-what-it-did-wrong-and-why-it-will-have-its-own-second-life/ |title=Second Life turns 10: what it did wrong, and why it may have its own second life – Tech News and Analysis |publisher=Gigaom.com |date=2013-06-23 |access-date=2014-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006142357/https://gigaom.com/2013/06/23/second-life-turns-10-what-it-did-wrong-and-why-it-will-have-its-own-second-life/}}</ref>

An example of how ''Second Life'' has been used by disabled people is [[Wheelies (virtual nightclub)|Wheelies]], the widely publicised disability-themed virtual nightclub founded by [[Simon James Stevens|Simon Stevens]].

=== Music streams ===
[[Shoutcast]] and [[Icecast]] radio stations can be streamed into a land parcel in ''Second Life''. The streaming codec is MP3, as AAC and Vorbis are not currently supported. There are [[internet radio]] providers that offer these services or select from a list. At the time of this writing, media on a prim (MOAP) is not a reliable enough way of displaying media and such, sites listed work best with Parcel Media or Parcel Audio.

=== Work spaces ===
[[File:Fashion For Change 2015-04-18 03.jpg|thumb|Fashion For Change fashion show held in ''Second Life'' in 2015]]
''Second Life'' gives companies the option to create virtual workplaces to allow employees to virtually meet, hold events, practice any kind of corporate communications, conduct training sessions in 3D immersive [[virtual learning environment]], simulate business processes, and prototype new products.

In 2020, CEO of ''Second Life'' Ebbe Altberg announced a [[microsite]] for ''Second Life'' to serve as a space for digital meetings to take place amidst global [[social distancing]], self-isolation, and quarantine orders during the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://skift.com/2020/03/23/second-life-targets-corporate-sector-as-travel-lockdown-bites/|title=Second Life Targets Corporate Sector as Travel Lockdown Bites|date=2020-03-23|website=Skift|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref>

== Notable events and influence ==

=== Second Life movie ===
In 2007 director [[David Fincher]] worked with screenwriter [[Peter Straughan]] to make a ''Second Life'' movie based on [[Tim Guest]]'s novel ''[[Second Lives]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawtrey |first=Adam |date=2007-06-21 |title=Peter Straughan |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/peter-straughan-1117967380/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The movie was rumored to feature [[Sacha Baron Cohen]] as protagonist [[Plastic Duck]], a zany Second Life resident who drove founder [[Philip Rosedale]] bonkers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New World Cinema: David Fincher Once Wanted To Make a Second Life Movie, Instead He's Made One About Facebook |url=https://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2010/07/new-world-cinema-social-network.html |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=New World Notes}}</ref>

=== Ban of Woodbury University ===
[[File:Woodbury University SL Campus 100411.jpg|thumb|The controversial campus of [[Woodbury University]]'s School of Media, Culture and Design, which was deleted in 2010 by [[Linden Lab]]]]

Linden Lab has twice, in 2007 and 2010, banned{{why?|date=September 2025}} a California educational institution, [[Woodbury University]], from having a representation within ''Second Life''. On April 20, 2010, four simulators belonging to the university were deleted and the accounts of several students and professors terminated, according to ''[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]''. Edward Clift, dean of the School of Media, Culture and Design at Woodbury University, told ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' that their campus "was a living, breathing campus in ''Second Life''", including educational spaces designed mostly by students, such as a mock representation of the former [[Soviet Union]] and a replica of the [[Berlin Wall]]. According to Clift, the virtual campus did not "conform to what Linden Lab wanted a campus to be".<ref>{{cite news |title= The Death of a Virtual Campus |first=Andrea L. |last=Foster |newspaper= [[The Chronicle of Higher Education]] |date= July 13, 2007 |url=http://chronicle.com/article/The-Death-of-a-Virtual-Campus/12732 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504140912/http://www.csun.edu/pubrels/clips/July07/07-06-07C.pdf| archive-date=May 4, 2016 |access-date=May 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Jeff Young">{{cite news |title= Woodbury U. Banned From Second Life, Again |first= Jeff |last= Young |newspaper= [[The Chronicle of Higher Education]] |date= April 21, 2010 |url= http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Woodbury-U-Banned-From-Second/23352/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121008003530/http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/woodbury-u-banned-from-second-life-again/23352 |archive-date= October 8, 2012 |access-date= September 26, 2012 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= California College Loses Second Life for a Second Time |first= Jeff |last= Greer |newspaper= [[U.S. News & World Report]] |date= April 22, 2010 |url= https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/paper-trail/2010/04/22/california-college-loses-second-life-for-a-second-time.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121018071132/http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/paper-trail/2010/04/22/california-college-loses-second-life-for-a-second-time |archive-date= October 18, 2012 |access-date= September 26, 2012 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all}}</ref>

The article in ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'' concluded with: "Meanwhile, many people in ''Second Life'' expressed on blogs that they were glad to see the virtual campus go, arguing that it had been a haven for troublemakers in the virtual world."<ref name="Jeff Young"/>

=== ''The Alphaville Herald'' ===
{{Main|The Alphaville Herald}}
In 2004, the newspaper ''[[The Alphaville Herald]]'', founded and edited by the philosopher [[Peter Ludlow]], migrated to ''Second Life'', and in the following years the newspaper played a prominent role in reporting on ''Second Life'' and in the public discussion of the game.<ref>[[Peter Ludlow]] and Mark Wallace, ''The Second Life Herald: The Virtual Tabloid that Witnessed the Dawn of the Metaverse'', [[MIT Press]], 2007, {{ISBN|978-0-262-12294-8}}</ref> The newspaper, which was known as ''The Second Life Herald'' from 2004 to 2009, was later edited by the Internet pioneer [[Mark P. McCahill]]. According to scholars Constantinescu and Decu, ''The Alphaville Herald'' was the first "virtual free press," pioneering [[mass communication]] in virtual worlds.<ref>Constantinescu, Diana and Decu, Andrei, "Social Cooperation within Virtual Worlds: Old Social Phenomena Emerging in New Environments" (October 1, 2008). {{doi|10.2139/ssrn.2000872}}</ref>

=== 2007 "Virtual Riot" ===
In January 2007, a "virtual riot" erupted between members of the [[Front National (France)|French National Front (FN)]] who had established a virtual HQ on ''Second Life'', and "anti-racism" activists, including [[Businesses and organizations in Second Life|Second Life Left Unity]], a socialist and anti-capitalist user-group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2007/01/stronger_than_h.html|title=Fighting the Front|last=Au|first=James Wagner|date=15 January 2007|work=New World Notes|access-date=2007-02-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/17/2145241|title=Political Strife Erupts in Second Life|author=Zonk|date=17 January 2007|work=[[Slashdot]]|access-date=2007-02-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3940079a28.html|title=Virtual race war unsettles Second Life|last=Hutcheon|first=Stephen|date=25 January 2007|work=Stuff|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070227150814/http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3940079a28.html|archive-date=27 February 2007|access-date=2007-02-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/france/story/0,,1994882,00.html|title=Exploding pigs and volleys of gunfire as Le Pen opens HQ in virtual world|last=Burkeman|first=Oliver|date=January 20, 2007|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2007-02-14|location=London}}</ref> Since then, several small Internet-based organizations have claimed some responsibility for instigating the riots.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://forumite.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1171633707&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&|title=How to start a riot in second life|author=Ghaz|date=February 16, 2007|work=forumite.com|access-date=2007-02-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922132152/http://forumite.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1171633707&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&|archive-date=September 22, 2007}}</ref>

=== Marketing ===
Corporate marketers, especially during the height of ''Second Life'' in the cultural zeitgeist of 2005–2010, have been accused of being overly credulous of the actual reach and influence of ''Second Life''. Journalists have theorized this might be partly due to blithely accepting total account statistics rather than harder-to-discern active player counts. Reasons for account "inflation" can include in-world systems which encourage the creation of bogus extra accounts such as "traffic bots" which simply remain stationary in a store, causing the system to rank the store as popular because there are people there, and simply idle and long inactive accounts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/I-ll-See-Your-Million-and-Raise-You-a-Million/ba-p/544153|title=I'll See Your Million... and Raise You a Million "Official Second Life Blog |publisher=Blog.secondlife.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203013528/http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/I-ll-See-Your-Million-and-Raise-You-a-Million/ba-p/544153 |archive-date=2014-02-03 |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://many.corante.com/archives/2006/12/26/lindens_second_life_numbers_and_the_presss_desire_to_believe.php|title=Linden's Second Life numbers and the press's desire to believe |work=Corante |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101072536/http://many.corante.com/archives/2006/12/26/lindens_second_life_numbers_and_the_presss_desire_to_believe.php |archive-date=2007-01-01|access-date=2007-06-18}}</ref> One article in ''Wired'' featured a marketer for Coca-Cola who found ''Second Life'' to be essentially deserted when personally inspecting it, yet still funded a marketing campaign there anyway from fear of missing out.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/15-08/ff_sheep?currentPage=1|title=How Madison Avenue Is Wasting Millions on a Deserted Second Life|first=Frank|last=Rose|date=2007-07-24|access-date=2009-03-08|magazine=Wired}}</ref><ref>Rolph, Shaun. "[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/20/second_life_analysis/ The phony economics of Second Life]." ''[[The Register]]''. February 20, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2009.</ref>

=== Griefing and denial of service attacks ===
{{See also|Griefer}}

''Second Life'' has been attacked several times by groups of residents abusing the creation tools to create objects that harass other users or damage the system. This included [[grey goo]] objects which infinitely reproduce, eventually overwhelming the servers;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6164806.stm |title='Worm' attacks Second Life world |access-date=2007-01-23 |work=BBC News |date=2006-11-20}}</ref> ''orbiters'' which throw an avatar so far upwards they cannot get back down in a reasonable timeframe without teleporting; ''cages'' which surround avatars, preventing them from moving, and similar tools. Although combat between users is sanctioned in certain areas of the world, these objects have been used to cause disruption in all areas. Attacks on the grid itself, such as Grey Goo, are strictly forbidden anywhere on the grid. It was possible to perpetrate [[denial-of-service attack]]s (DoS) on other users simply by scripting objects that spew screen filling characters from anywhere on the grid to another avatar's location, thereby disabling a clear view to the virtual world. Bugs in the client and server software were also exploited by griefers to kick users, crash servers, and revert content before being patched out.<ref>{{cite web |title=Second Life Bug Tracker |url=https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/STORM-836?filter=-4&jql=ORDER%20BY%20created%20ASC |website=jira.secondlife.com |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>

=== The Emerald client and in-world logging scripts ===
The Emerald client was developed by a group of users based on [[Snowglobe]], an opensource fork of the ''Second Life'' client. Several groups alleged that the Emerald viewer contained [[Trojan horse (computing)|Trojan code]] which tracked user details and demographics in a way that the developers could later recover. One of these groups was banned from ''Second Life'' by Linden Lab after publishing their discovery.<ref name="brokentoys.org">{{cite web |last=Jennings |first=Scott |url=http://brokentoys.org/2010/08/24/the-client-is-in-the-compiler-of-the-enemy/ |title=The Client Is in the Compiler of the Enemy |publisher=Broken Toys |date=August 24, 2010 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810154841/http://brokentoys.org/2010/08/24/the-client-is-in-the-compiler-of-the-enemy/ |archive-date=August 10, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Shortly afterward, a member of the Emerald team was accused of a [[DDOS]] attack against another website. In response, Linden Lab revoked Emerald's third-party viewer approval and permanently banned several of Emerald's developers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mistral |first1=Pixeleen |title=Ban Hammer Smashes Emerald – Phox Threatens Linden Tell-All |url=http://alphavilleherald.com/2010/09/ban-hammer-smashes-emerald-phox-threatens-linden-tell-all.html |website=The Alphaville Herald |access-date=16 January 2020}}</ref> Due to what happened with Emerald, Linden Lab instituted a new third-party viewer policy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://secondlife.com/corporate/third-party-viewers|title=Third Party Viewers|website=secondlife.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mistral |first1=Pixeleen |title=Emerald In Disgrace!!! Philip Linden Warns Against Malicious Viewer!!! |url=http://alphavilleherald.com/2010/08/emerald-in-disgrace-philip-linden-warns-against-malicious-viewer.html |website=The Alphaville Herald |access-date=16 January 2020}}</ref>

The support staff and one of the developers of the Emerald project, who was not banned, left to work on a new viewer project, Phoenix (using some of the Emerald codebase, but without [[Off-the-Record Messaging]] nor any potentially malicious code).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lyon |first1=Jessica |title=From the ashes... |url=https://jessicalyons.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/from-the-ashes/ |website=Wordpress: Jessica Lyon's Blog |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=16 January 2020}}</ref> The Phoenix team are now the developers behind Firestorm Viewer, a fork of ''Second Life'''s "viewer 2.0" open source client.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2014/06/is-linden-lab-abandoning-second-life/|title=Is Linden Lab abandoning Second Life? – Hypergrid Business|date=June 20, 2014}}</ref>

===''Vlogger''===
{{main|Vlogger (film)}}
''[[Vlogger (film)|Vlogger]]'' is a 2011 Spanish [[political thriller]] film that makes heavy use of ''Second Life'' through [[machinima]] production. The film follows a Pakistani computer specialist who discovers that her brother has been recruited into an Islamic extremist group in the video game. With six days until he plans to commit a suicide bombing, the protagonist enters the digital world of ''Second Life'' to stop him. The film debuted at the 2011 [[Sitges Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=VLOGGER |url=https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng/film?id=10002027 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104065828/https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng/film?id=10002027 |archive-date=4 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2019 |website=sitgesfilmfestival.com |publisher=Stignes Film Festival}}</ref>

== Criticism and controversy ==
''Second Life'' has seen a number of controversies. Issues range from the technical ([[Real estate (Second Life)#Budgeting of server resources|budgeting of server resources]]), to moral (e.g., pornography and [[cyberbullying]]{{cn|date=October 2024}}), to legal ([[Economy of Second Life#Legal position of the Linden Dollar|legal position of the Linden Dollar]], ''[[Bragg v. Linden Lab]]''). Security issues have also been a concern.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

=== Regulation ===
In the past, large portions of the ''Second Life'' economy consisted of businesses{{which?|date=September 2025}} that are regulated or banned{{where?|date=September 2025}}. Changes to ''Second Life''{{'}}s terms of service in this regard have largely had the purpose of bringing activity within ''Second Life'' into compliance with various international laws, even though the person running the business may be in full compliance with the law in their own country.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

On July 26, 2007, Linden Lab announced a ban on in-world gambling due to federal and state regulations on Internet gambling that could affect Linden Lab if it was permitted to continue. The ban was immediately met with in-world protests.<ref name="libsl-sl-gambling-banned">{{cite web|
url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201201441|
title=Gambling Banned in Second Life|
access-date=2007-07-26}}</ref>

In August 2007, a $750,000 in-world Linden Dollar bank or [[Ponzi scheme]] called [[Ginko Financial]] collapsed due to a [[bank run]] triggered by Linden Lab's ban on gambling.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ginko Financial's End-Game |url=http://alphavilleherald.com/2007/08/ginko-financial-2.html |website=The Alpha Herald |access-date=28 November 2019 |date=6 August 2007}}</ref> The aftershocks of this collapse caused severe liquidity problems for other virtual "Linden Dollar banks", which critics had long asserted were scams. On Tuesday, January 8, 2008, Linden Lab announced the upcoming prohibition of payment of fixed interest on cash deposits in unregulated banking activities in-world.<ref name="libsl-sl-banks-banned">{{cite web|
url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/01/08/new-policy-regarding-in-world-banks/|
title=Banking Banned in Second Life|
date=June 12, 2023}}</ref> All banks without real-world charters closed or converted to virtual joint stock companies by January 22, 2008.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120104351064608025?mod=todays_us_page_one
|title=Cheer Up, Ben: Your Economy Isn't As Bad as This One. In the Make-Believe World Of 'Second Life,' Banks Are Really Collapsing
|first=Robin
|last=Sidel
|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]
|date=January 23, 2008}}</ref> After the ban, a few companies continue to offer non-interest bearing deposit accounts to residents, such as the [[e-commerce]] site XStreet, which had already adopted a zero-interest policy 3 months before the Linden Lab interest ban.

=== Technical issues ===
[[File:SL Canoe.jpg|thumb|Kayaking through the virtual world]]
''Second Life'' has suffered from difficulties related to system instability. These include increased system [[latency (engineering)]], and intermittent client crashes. However, some faults are caused by the system's use of an "asset server" cluster, on which the actual data governing objects is stored separately from the areas of the world and the avatars that use those objects. The communication between the main servers and the asset cluster appears to constitute a [[bottleneck (engineering)|bottleneck]] which frequently causes problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.massively.com/2008/01/06/second-life-grid-closed-due-to-asset-problems/ |title=Second Life grid closed due to asset problems – Massively |publisher=Massively.com |author=Tateru Nino |date= January 6, 2008<!-- at 10:30 am --> |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2008/03/28/resolved-asset-server-issues |title=RESOLVED&#93; Asset Server Issues "Official Second Life Blog |publisher=Blog.secondlife.com |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondlifeinsider.com/2007/06/12/asset-server-issues/ |title=Asset server issues – Second Life Insider |publisher=Secondlifeinsider.com |author=Eloise PasteurFiled under: LSL, Gridbugs |date=June 12, 2007 |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref> Typically, when asset server downtime is announced, users are advised not to build, manipulate objects, or engage in business, leaving them with little to do but chat and generally reducing confidence in all businesses on the grid.

Another problem is inventory loss,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/UPDATED-Experiencing-inventory-loss-Read-on/ba-p/573214 |title=UPDATED&#93; Experiencing inventory loss? Read on... "Official Second Life Blog |publisher=Blog.secondlife.com |access-date=October 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002082924/http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/UPDATED-Experiencing-inventory-loss-Read-on/ba-p/573214 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/Inventory-Loss-Reduction-Initiative/ba-p/595948 |title=Inventory Loss Reduction Initiative "Official Second Life Blog |publisher=Blog.secondlife.com |access-date=October 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002082930/http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/Inventory-Loss-Reduction-Initiative/ba-p/595948 |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/SVC-114 |title=#SVC-114&#93; Meta-Issue: Inventory Loss: issues, fixes, development – Second Life Issues |publisher=Jira.secondlife.com |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref> in which items in a user's inventory, including those which have been paid for, can disappear without warning or permanently enter a state where they will fail to appear in-world when requested (giving an "object missing from database" error). Linden Lab offers no compensation for items that are lost in this way, although a policy change instituted in 2008 allows accounts to file support tickets when inventory loss occurs. Many in-world businesses will attempt to compensate for this or restore items, although they are under no obligation to do so and not all are able to do so. A recent change in how the company handles items which have "lost their parent directory" means that inventory loss is much less of a problem and resolves faster than in recent years. "Loss to recovery times" have gone from months (or never) to hours or a day or two for the majority of users, but inventory loss does still exist.

''Second Life'' functions by streaming all data to the user live over the Internet with minimal local caching of frequently used data. The user is expected to have a minimum of 300&nbsp;kbit/s of Internet bandwidth for basic functionality. Due to the proprietary communications protocols, it is not possible to use a network proxy service to reduce network load when many people are all using the same location, such as when used for group activities in a school or business.

=== Quality assurance ===
Criticism of [[Software Quality Assurance|quality assurance]] of ''Second Life'' states that [[Linden Lab]] focuses too much on bringing new features to the production environment instead of fixing long-standing bugs that, in the worst case, cause financial loss for the users. On April 30, 2007, an open letter signed by over 3,000<ref name="secondlife-openletter-signers">{{cite web|url=http://www.projectopenletter.com/News.aspx|title=Open Letters News, 5/1/2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503011341/http://www.projectopenletter.com/News.aspx|archive-date=May 3, 2007|access-date=2007-06-15}}</ref> users was sent to Linden Lab to protest the [[Software Quality Assurance|quality assurance]] process of the company.<ref name="secondlife-openletter">{{cite web|url=http://www.projectopenletter.com/|title=Project Open Letter|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602235847/http://projectopenletter.com/|archive-date=2007-06-02|access-date=2007-06-08}}</ref> Linden Lab has responded to the open letter.<ref name="secondlife-openletter-response">{{cite web|url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/04/30/project-open-letter/|title=Response to the Open Letter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506125440/http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/04/30/project-open-letter/|archive-date=May 6, 2007|access-date=2007-06-08}}</ref>

=== Frame rate ===
Computer hardware and Internet connections capable of smoothly rendering high quality content in other [[MMOG]]s may perform poorly in ''Second Life'', resulting in low [[frame rate]]s and unresponsive controls on even minimal graphical configurations. The problem is especially prevalent when large numbers of avatars congregate in one area. The problem is largely due to the fact that the world is entirely user created, and the majority of content created by users is made without any sort of basic graphical optimization. As a result, objects with both unnecessarily high polygon counts, and unnecessarily high resolution textures are prevalent. It is not uncommon for users to have to download and use upwards of a dozen times the amount of resources than would actually be required for the equivalent visual result. Certain areas have guidelines for script usage, which helps reduce lag by reducing resources used server-side, but does nothing to alleviate the primary issue above.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

=== Congestion ===
[[File:SL Fishing Boat.jpg|thumb|Fishing boat in ''Second Life'']]
A single region (65,536&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup> of land hosted on a single [[CPU]]) is set to accommodate a limited number of Residents (40 on 'mainland' regions, up to 100 on private islands), causing some popular locations such as teleportation points to become inaccessible at times. It is possible for an area of land a Resident has paid for to become inaccessible because another area in the same region has exhausted the avatar limit.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

=== Customer security ===
On September 8, 2006, Linden Lab released a news bulletin that revealed their ''Second Life'' database had been compromised and customer information, including encrypted passwords and users' real names, had likely been accessed.<ref name="lindenblog-urgent-security-announcement">{{cite web |url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/09/08/urgent-security-announcement/ |title=Urgent Security Announcement |author=Linden, Robin |date=September 8, 2006 |access-date=2006-11-18}}</ref><ref name="secondlifedotcom-security-bulletins">{{cite web |url=http://secondlife.com/corporate/bulletin.php |title=Second Life Security Bulletin |author=Linden Lab |date=2006-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025064746/http://secondlife.com/corporate/bulletin.php |archive-date=2006-10-25 |access-date=2006-11-18}}</ref> However, it was later revealed that the hacker had in fact been focused on trying to cheat the in-world money system<ref name="lindenblog-security-breach-update">{{cite web |url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/09/22/security-breach-update/ |title=Security breach update |author=Linden, Ian |date=2006-09-22 |access-date=2006-11-18}}</ref> and their access to personal information was believed incidental, although a full alert was still raised for safety's sake.

=== Fraud and intellectual property protection ===
Although ''Second Life''{{'}}s client and server incorporate [[digital rights management]] technology, the visual data of an object must ultimately be sent to the client for it to be drawn; thus unofficial third-party clients can bypass them. One such program, [[CopyBot]], was developed in 2006 as a debugging tool to enable objects to be backed up, but was immediately hijacked for use in copying objects; additionally, programs that generally attack client-side processing of data, such as [[GLIntercept]], can copy certain pieces of data. Such use is prohibited under the ''Second Life'' TOS<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/11/14/use-of-copybot-and-similar-tools-a-tos-violation/ |title=Use of CopyBot and Similar Tools a ToS Violation |publisher=[[Linden Lab]] |date=2006-11-14 |access-date=2007-09-09}}</ref> and could be prosecuted under the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]].

Linden Lab may ban a user who is observed using CopyBot or a similar client, but it will not ban a user simply for uploading or even selling copied content; in this case, Linden Lab's enforcement of intellectual property law is limited to that required by the "safe harbor" provisions of the [[DMCA]] which used to require a regular mail DMCA complaint. However, since 2019 an electronic DMCA complaint form is also available.<ref>{{cite web|title=Online DMCA Complaint Submission|author=Linden Lab|date=June 24, 2019 |url=https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/2572-online-dmca-complaint-submission/}}</ref>

A few high-profile businesses in ''Second Life'' have filed such lawsuits,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/news/2006/05/70909 |title=Second Life Land Deal Goes Sour |first=Kathleen |last=Craig |magazine=Wired |date=May 18, 2006 |access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2007/07/03/sl-business-sues-for-copyright-infringement/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707004753/http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2007/07/03/sl-business-sues-for-copyright-infringement/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2007 |title=SL business sues for copyright infringement |work=Reuters.com |date=July 3, 2007 |access-date=March 14, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3517319/Second-Life-lawsuit-to-test-how-much-jurisdiction-courts-have-over-virtual-world.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3517319/Second-Life-lawsuit-to-test-how-much-jurisdiction-courts-have-over-virtual-world.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Second Life lawsuit to test how much jurisdiction courts have over virtual world |first=Urmee |last=Khan |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=November 25, 2008 |access-date=March 14, 2010 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aR6xHcnBMn9M/ |title=Taser Sues Second Life Virtual World Creator Over Gun Sales |first=Erik |last=Larson |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date=April 20, 2009 |access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://abovethelaw.com/2009/09/virtual_sex_toys.php |title=Lawsuit of the Day: Getting Off on Knock-off Virtual Sex Toys |first=Kashmir |last=Hill |publisher=Abovethelaw.com |date=September 18, 2009 |access-date=March 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090923222832/http://abovethelaw.com/2009/09/virtual_sex_toys.php |archive-date=September 23, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2021}} none of the cases filed to date have gone to trial, and most have been dismissed pursuant to a settlement agreement reached between the parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://virtuallyblind.com/2007/10/04/bragg-linden-lab-settlement/ |title=Bragg v. Linden Lab – Confidential Settlement Reached; 'Marc Woebegone' Back in Second Life |first=Benjamin |last=Duranske |publisher=Virtuallyblind.com |date=October 4, 2007 |access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://virtuallyblind.com/2007/12/03/kenzo-simon-settlement/ |title=Second Life Content Creators' Lawsuit Against Thomas Simon (aka Avatar 'Rase Kenzo') Settles; Signed Consent Judgement Filed |first=Benjamin |last=Duranske |publisher=Virtuallyblind.com |date=December 3, 2007 |access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.massively.com/2009/05/06/taser-international-vs-linden-lab-lawsuit-dropped/ |title=Taser International vs Linden Lab: Lawsuit dropped! |first=Tateru |last=Nino |publisher=Massively.com |date=May 6, 2009 |access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref> Another case where settlement and dismissal was gained may be found in the matter of Eros, LLC v. Linden Research, Inc. As of October 7, 2010, the case was transferred to private mediation and the plaintiffs filed for dismissal of charges on March 15, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.patentarcade.com/2010/06/case-update-eros-llc-v-linden-research_21.html |title=Eros v. Linden Update |publisher=3d Internet Law |date=January 30, 2010 |access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref>

Most users in the world as paying, private individuals are, likewise, effectively unprotected. Common forms of fraud taking place in-world include bogus investment and pyramid schemes, fake or hacked vendors, and failure to honor land rental agreements.
A group of virtual landowners online have filed a class action lawsuit against the company, claiming the company broke the law when it rescinded their ownership rights. The plaintiffs say a change in the terms of service forced them to either accept new terms that rescinded their virtual property ownership rights, or else be locked out of the site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Class Action Lawsuit Targets Second Life |publisher= CNET |date=May 3, 2010 |access-date=May 4, 2010 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-20004004-36.html}}</ref>

=== OpenSpaces ===
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2018}}
[[File:Map over Bay City, Second Life.png|thumb|Map over Bay City, the largest virtual city of ''Second Life'', located on the continent of Sansara]]
Linden Lab, for a period, offered ''Openspace'' regions to users: regions which were purchased in packs of four, with all four running on a single CPU core, intended to be placed next to an existing region to create the effect of larger size. The fee for 4 Openspaces was identical to that for a single private region. However, in March 2008, this rule was modified to permit Openspaces to be bought individually and placed elsewhere, and increasing the prim load each one could handle. Openspaces were made available for a US$415 downpayment plus a US$75 monthly fee.

In October 2008, Linden Lab announced that the Openspaces being used for this purpose were being misused; there was in fact no technical throttle limiting their usage. Linden Lab raised the monthly fee per Openspace to US$125, the same cost as half a region; added an avatar limit of 20; and renamed it to Homestead.

A week after the initial announcement Linden Lab stated its intention to add technical limits. A revised Openspace product, with far fewer prims, a no-residency rule, and costing the same monthly amount, was announced.

In May 2009, Linden Lab announced they were "grandfathering" Openspace sims (now rebranded as "Homesteads"), after a protracted protest movement<ref>{{cite news |url=http://foo.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2008/10/save-our-open-s.html |title=Open Spaces Protest Closes Nautilus Sim! |work=The Alphaville Herald |publisher=Foo.secondlifeherald.com |access-date=2014-07-09}}</ref> caused a major amount of negative publicity and funded potential litigation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ace-exchange.com/symbol/SOS/profile |title=empty |website=ace-exchange.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207091918/http://www.ace-exchange.com/symbol/SOS/profile |archive-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/blog/2009/05/26/good-news-homestead-pricing-to-be-grandfathered-if-purchased-before-july-1st-2009 |title=Land – Second Life |publisher=Blogs.secondlife.com |access-date=2014-07-09}}</ref>

=== Sex ===
Some media attention has been given to sexual activity involving avatars with a childlike appearance.<ref name="newsdotcomdotcom-phony-kids-virtual-sex">{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Phony-kids,-virtual-sex/2100-1043_3-6060132.html |title=Phony kids, virtual sex |author=Terdiman, Daniel |date=April 12, 2006 |access-date=2006-11-18 |author-link=Daniel Terdiman}}</ref> The United Kingdom<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/13/pedo_art_illegal |title=Home Office to clean up Sadville? |work=The Register |first=John |last=Leydon |date=2006-12-13 |access-date=2013-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6175441.stm |title=Ban urged on child abuse images |work=BBC News |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease280508a.htm |title=New proposals will make all obscene images of children illegal |work=Ministry of Justice |publisher=Justice.gov.uk |access-date=2008-10-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121020053/http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease280508a.htm |archive-date=2008-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/28/government_outlaws_pictures/ |title=UK to outlaw cartoons of child sexual abuse| website=[[The Register]]}}</ref> and Germany<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/may/08/secondlife.web20 |title=Germany investigates Second Life child pornography |work=The Guardian |author=Kate Connolly in Berlin |date=2007-05-08|access-date=2008-10-27 |location=London}}</ref> are among the countries investigating new{{when?|date=September 2025}} laws [[Legal status of fictional pornography depicting minors|to combat simulated child pornography]]. The USA has attempted to pass several laws forbidding simulated child pornography; however, each one has been struck down by the US Supreme Court as an infringement on the First Amendment right to free speech.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/16/scotus.virtual.child.porn/|title=CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602110336/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/04/16/scotus.virtual.child.porn/|archive-date=2008-06-02}}</ref>

As of May 2007, two such countries, Germany and Belgium, have launched a police investigation into age of consent-related offenses in ''Second Life'' (including both trading of non-virtual photography and involuntary virtual sexual activity with childlike avatars by means of virtual [[identity theft]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6638331.stm |title=Second Life 'child abuse' claim |work=BBC News |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://virtuallyblind.com/2007/04/24/open-roundtable-allegations-of-virtual-rape-bring-belgian-police-to-second-life |title=Reader Roundtable: "Virtual Rape" Claim Brings Belgian Police to Second Life &#124; Benjamin Duranske |publisher=Virtuallyblind.com |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref> Linden Lab responded by issuing a statement that any "depiction of sexual or lewd acts involving minors" was a bannable offence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/05/09/accusations-regarding-child-pornography-in-second-life/ |title=Accusations Regarding Child Pornography in Second Life "Official Second Life Blog |publisher=Blog.secondlife.com |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref>

In France, a conservative family union, [[Familles de France]], sued Linden Lab in June 2007, alleging that ''Second Life'' gave minors access to sexual content, including [[Bondage (BDSM)|bondage]], [[zoophilia]], [[Coprophilia|scatophilia]], and to gambling, and advertisements for alcohol, drugs and tobacco.<ref>{{cite news |title=Familles de France veut interdire Second Life |journal=JDN: Journal du Net |date=4 June 2007 |url=http://www.journaldunet.com/ebusiness/internet/actualite/0706/070604-second-life-familles-de-france-proces.shtml |access-date=10 January 2020 |language=fr}}</ref> Linden Lab pointed out that the virtual world is not meant for children (people under the age of 18) because of the mature content and interactions within ''Second Life''. However, minors aged between 13 and 17 can access ''Second Life'', but they will be restricted to what they can see or do based on age.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Teens_in_Second_Life |title=Linden Lab Official:Teens in Second Life |date=February 9, 2012 |publisher=Linden Lab |access-date=2013-02-15}}</ref> The ''Second Life'' world is split into sections/worlds and each one is given a maturity rating similar to films: General, Moderate and Adult. Minors aged 13–17 can access areas with a General Rating only.<ref name="lindenlab.com-tos">{{Cite web |url=https://www.lindenlab.com/tos |title=Terms of Service |website=Linden Lab}}</ref>

''Second Life'' Main Grid regions are rated either "General", "Moderate", or "Adult" (previously "PG", "Mature", or "Adult").<ref name="secondlifedotcom-kb-cs">{{cite web|url=http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Maturity-ratings/ta-p/700119#What_are_maturity_ratings.3F|title=Maturity ratings|publisher=Second Life Knowledge base|access-date=2011-08-27}}</ref> Builds, textures, actions, animations, chat, or businesses that are of an adult nature are regulated by the ''Second Life'' Terms of Service<ref name="secondlifedotcom-tos">{{cite web |url=http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php |title=Second Life Terms of Service |author=Linden Lab |access-date=2006-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216151637/http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php |archive-date=2007-02-16 |url-status=live |author-link=Linden Lab}}</ref> to only occur in simulators with a Moderate or Adult rating. General rated sims exist as an alternative for residents who do not wish to reside in areas where adult-oriented activities and businesses are permitted.

Linden Lab has created an Adult rated "mainland" continent named Zindra in response to its other "mainland" continents being mostly General.<ref name="secondlifedotcom-kb-cs"/>

=== Unauthorized copying of content ===
''Second Life'' features a built-in [[digital rights management]] system that controls the movement of textures, sounds, scripts, and models with the ''Second Life'' servers at Linden Lab. At some point, though, this data must be sent to a user's computer to be displayed or played, an issue fundamental to any system attempting to apply restrictions to digital information.

In November 2006 controversy arose over a tool called [[CopyBot]], developed as part of [[libsecondlife]] and was intended to allow users to legitimately back up their ''Second Life'' data. For a brief period, an unmodified CopyBot allowed any user to replicate ''SL'' items or avatars (although not scripts, which run only on the servers at Linden Lab). Later changes to the SecondLife protocols prevented unmodified copies of CopyBot from working. Nevertheless, the basic issue of users being able to duplicate content that is sent to them remains.

Residents who copy content belonging to other users face being banned from ''Second Life'', but Linden Lab has so far never sued any of these users for copyright infringement; since the resident creators (and not Linden Lab) retain ownership of the rights, it is not clear whether Linden Lab would legally be able to do so. Linden Lab does, however, comply with DMCA [[takedown notice]]s served to them against resident content; serving a DMCA Takedown Notice is the normal procedure recommended by Linden Lab for having copyrighted content illegally resold on ''Second Life''.

Any user who uploads, publishes or submits any content keeps the intellectual property rights of that content, however both Linden Lab and other users gain their own rights from your content. Linden Lab receives a content license from anything a user uploads to the server. Section 7.3 of the ''Second Life'' terms of service states; "you hereby automatically grant Linden Lab a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sub-license able, and transferable licence to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the content solely for the purpose of providing and promoting the service".

A user who uploads their content to a public area also gives a content licence to other users as well, which allows other users to replicate and record for use in Machinima (as outlined in section 7.4, Snapshot and Machinima Policy).<ref name="Second Life Terms of Service">{{cite web |url=http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php |title=Second Life Terms of Service |access-date=2007-01-23 |work=Linden Lab |date=2006-11-20}}</ref>

Regardless of what rights and licences are given, Linden Lab takes no responsibility for the outcome of any dispute between users or the server regarding content. Section 10.2 states; "you release Linden Lab (and its officers, directors, shareholders, agents, subsidiaries, and employees) from claims, demands, losses, liabilities and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind nature, known and unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with any dispute you have or claim to have with one or more users, including whether or not Linden Lab becomes involved in any resolution or attempted resolution of the dispute". Section 10.3 repeats a similar passage but regarding the responsibility of Linden Lab during any data or technical fault.<ref name="Second Life Terms of Service"/>

== Litigation ==
=== ''Bragg v. Linden Lab'' ===
{{Main|Bragg v. Linden Lab}}
In 2006, attorney Marc Bragg sued Linden Lab, claiming that it had illegally deprived him of access to his account<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/news/2006/05/70909 |title=Second Life Land Deal Goes Sour |magazine=Wired |date=2006-05-18|access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref> after he discovered a loophole in the online land auction system which allowed regions to be purchased at prices below [[reserve price|reserve]]. Although most users and commentators believed that Bragg would have no chance of winning, a number of legal developments occurred as a result of the case, including a court ruling that parts of the ''Second Life'' Terms of Service were [[unenforceable]], due to being an unconscionable [[contract of adhesion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14176 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606082159/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14176 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 6, 2007 |title=Gamasutra – Judge Rules Against Second Life Terms Of Service |publisher=Gamasutra.com |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref> The case eventually ended with Bragg's virtual land and account being restored to him in a confidential [[out-of-court settlement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virtuallyblind.com/2007/10/04/bragg-linden-lab-settlement/ |title=Bragg v. Linden Lab – Confidential Settlement Reached; 'Marc Woebegone' Back in Second Life &#124; Benjamin Duranske |publisher=Virtuallyblind.com |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref> Since the settlement created no legal precedent, it left users with confusion as to what legal rights they truly had with respect to their virtual land, items, and account. Many of Bragg's legal arguments rested on the claim, advertised on Linden Lab web site, that virtual land within ''Second Life'' could be "owned" by the purchasing user, which was removed shortly after the settlement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintfalken.com/second-life-a-world-imagined-created-and-owned-by-its-residents-no-more/ |title=Second Life, a world imagined, created, and owned by its residents no more. |publisher=VintFalken.com |access-date=2008-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225041758/http://www.vintfalken.com/second-life-a-world-imagined-created-and-owned-by-its-residents-no-more/ |archive-date=2008-12-25 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://technollama.blogspot.com/2007/10/bragg-v-linden-labs.html |title=TechnoLlama: Bragg v Linden Lab |publisher=Technollama.blogspot.com |date=October 19, 2007 |access-date=2008-10-27}}</ref>

=== ''Eros, LLC and Grei v. Linden Lab'' ===
Eros, LLC and Shannon Grei brought forth a [[class action]] suit in US District Court in Northern California against Linden Research, Inc on September 15, 2009 (Case4:09-cv-04269-PJH). Court papers allege the defendants knowingly and profitably turned a blind eye to [[copyright]] and [[trademark]] violations within the Second Life service.<ref name="Strokerz Toyz/Eros LLC Takes Linden Lab to Court in Class Action Lawsuit!!!">[http://foo.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2009/09/strokerz-toyzeros-llc-takes-linden-lab-to-court.html Mistral, Pixeleen: "Strokerz Toyz/Eros LLC Takes Linden Lab to Court in Class Action Lawsuit!!!" Alphaville Herald, September 15, 2009].</ref><ref name="PDF e-filing">[https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2009/09/linden.pdf Wired.com: "[PDF&#93; E-f iling, " Wired.com], {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028090243/https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2009/09/linden.pdf |date=October 28, 2009}}.</ref>

=== ''Evans et al. v. Linden Lab'' ===
In 2010, a group of banned ''SL'' users filed suit against Linden Lab and CEO Philip Rosedale, in the same Pennsylvania Federal District Court that the Bragg case was adjudicated in, with the same judge, to deal with further land seizures and account suspensions by the Lab against various customers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://modemworld.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/echoes-of-bragg-evans-et-al-vs-linden-lab/|title=Echoes of Bragg: Evans et al vs. Linden Lab|work=Living in the Modem World|date=2010-04-22}}</ref> Due to the Terms of Service agreement changes since the Bragg case, defendants attorneys successfully argued to move the suit to federal court in California, where the case lingered for several years. The judge did rule that there was a basis to turn the litigation into a class action, and that there were two classes under which claimants could file claims. The primary class was those who suffered economic damages to their livelihoods, through loss of their business revenues in ''SL''. The secondary class was those who suffered property losses from loss of land, money on hand, and virtual goods in avatar inventories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14994713406594842869&q=%22evans+v+linden+research%22&hl=en&as_sdt=2,5&as_ylo=2012|title=Google Scholar|publisher=Google Scholar}}</ref> In May 2013, attorney for defendants negotiated a settlement agreement with one of the lead attorneys that, in plain language, agreed to refund region setup fees for private island owners, pay land owners 2 Linden Dollars per square meter of virtual land, refund all L$ and USD amounts in the plaintiffs' accounts at the time of suspension, and allow the plaintiffs the option of either receiving $15US as compensation for loss of accounts and inventory virtual goods OR restoration of their accounts to sell their goods on the ''SL'' Marketplace.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alphavilleherald.com/2013/11/refunds-for-banned-second-life-players-shock.html|title=Refunds For Banned Second Life Players!! SHOCK!!! &#124; The Alphaville Herald|website=alphavilleherald.com}}</ref> The settlement agreement went to final hearing in March 2014, with an objection from claimant [[Mike Lorrey]] as to the vagueness of certain terms in the settlement as to which fees exactly would be refunded. With the resolution of that objection,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.secondlifesettlement.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/200664726/Final_Approval.pdf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140813200611/http://www.secondlifesettlement.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/200664726/Final_Approval.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-08-13 |title=United States District Court}}</ref> claimants who had filed claims prior to March 28, 2014, began to receive settlement money a few months later.

== In popular culture ==
Since its debut in 2003, ''Second Life'' has been referred to by various popular culture media, including literature, television, film and music. In addition, various personalities in such media have themselves used or employed ''Second Life'' for both their own works and for private purposes.

In September 2006, former [[Governor of Virginia]] [[Mark Warner]] became the first politician to appear in a MMO when he gave a speech in ''Second Life''.<ref>{{cite web|website=Joystiq.com |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/01/real-world-governor-speaks-in-second-life/ |title=Former governor speaks in Second Life|date=September 1, 2006}}</ref> Musicians followed suit, with [[Redzone]] being credited by ''Wired'' and Reuters as the first band to tour in ''Second Life'' in February 2007. Authors George R R Martin (May 2007)<ref>{{cite web |title=Interviews {{!}} George R.R. Martin |url=https://georgerrmartin.com/for-fans/interviews/ |website=georgerrmartin.com |publisher=Bantam |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> and [[Paul Levinson]] (November 2007) were interviewed in ''Second Life'' about their work.<ref>{{cite web |website=Infinite Regress.tv |url=https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2007/11/paul-levinson-lectures-on-freedom-and.html |title=Paul Levinson interviewed in Second Life about media evolution and science fiction|year=2007}}</ref> Then, in June 2008, author [[Charles Stross]] held a conference in ''Second Life'' to promote an upcoming novel.<ref>{{cite web |website=BoingBoing |url=http://www.boingboing.net/2008/06/17/charlie-stross-in-se.html |title=Charlie Stross in Second Life this Saturday|year=2008}}</ref> ''Second Life'' was also featured prominently, and used as a tool to locate a suspect, in the television show ''[[CSI: NY]]'' in 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/arts/television/04CSI.html |work=The New York Times |first=Bill |last=Carter |title=Fictional Characters Get Virtual Lives, Too |date=October 4, 2007}}</ref> In the American sitcom ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]'', [[Dwight Schrute]] ([[Rainn Wilson]]) is known to play the game, most notably in the episode "[[Local Ad]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-17 |title='The Office' stars reminisce on the show's Second Life storyline |url=https://mashable.com/article/the-office-dwight-second-life-local-ad-episode |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Mashable |language=en}}</ref>

== Research ==
[[File:Sl scuba.jpg|thumb|Scuba diver in [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]'s virtual coral sanctuary located in [[SciLands]]]]
Much of the published research conducted in ''Second Life'' is associated with education, learning, and data collection. Unlike computer games, ''Second Life'' does not have a pre-defined purpose and allows for highly realistic enactment of real life activities online.<ref name=Wagner2009>{{cite journal|last1=Wagner|first1=C.|title=Action Learning with Second Life – A Pilot Study.|journal=Journal of Information Systems Education|year=2009|volume=20|issue=2|pages=249–258|url=http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ844225}}</ref> One such study tested the usefulness of ''SL'' as an [[action learning]] environment in a senior course for management information systems students.<ref name="Wagner2009"/> Another presented a case study in which university students were tasked with building an interactive learning experience using ''SL'' as a platform. Both problem-based learning and constructionism acted as framing pedagogies for the task, with students working in teams to design and build a learning experience which could be possible in real life.<ref name=Good2008>{{cite journal |last1=Good |first1=J. |last2=Howland |first2=K. |last3=Thackray |first3=L. |title=Pro blem-based learning spanning real and virtual words: a case study in Second Life. |journal=Association for Learning Technology Journal |year=2008 |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=163–172 |doi=10.1080/09687760802526681 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Situated learning has also been examined in ''SL'', to determine how the design and social dynamics of the virtual world support and constrain various types of learning.<ref name=Hayes2006>{{cite journal |last1=Hayes |first1=E.R. |title=Situated learning in virtual worlds: The learning ecology of Second Life |journal=In AERC Conference Proceedings |date=May 2006 |pages=154–159 |url=http://www.adulterc.org/proceedings/2006/proceedings/hayes.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014045859/http://www.adulterc.org/Proceedings/2006/Proceedings/Hayes.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-10-14}}</ref> The paper, "The future for (second) life and learning", published in the ''[[British Journal of Educational Technology]]'', examines the potential of ''Second Life'' to further innovative learning techniques.<ref name=Salmon2009>{{cite journal |last1=Salmon |first1=G.|title=The future for (second) life and learning |journal=British Journal of Educational Technology |year=2009 |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=154–159 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8535.2009.00967.x |url=http://www.adulterc.org/proceedings/2006/proceedings/hayes.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014045859/http://www.adulterc.org/Proceedings/2006/Proceedings/Hayes.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-10-14}}</ref> It notes trends within the ''SL'' innovation to date, including the provision of realistic settings, the exploitation of pleasant simulated environments for groups, and the links with other learning technologies. It also considers the creativity sparked by ''SL''{{'}}s potential to offer the illusion of 3-D 'spaces' and buildings, and points to infinite imaginative educational possibilities.<ref name="Salmon2009"/>

[[File:Health Info Island on Second Life.jpg|thumb|HealthInfo Island provides tips on staying healthy to ''Second Life'' residents.]]
Second Life has also offered educational research potential within the medical and healthcare fields. Examples include in-world research facilities such as the Second Life Medical and Consumer Health Libraries (Healthinfo Island, funded by a grant from the US National Library of Medicine), and VNEC (Virtual Neurological Education Centre, developed at the University of Plymouth, UK).<ref name=Boulos2007>{{cite journal |last1=Boulos|first1=M.N.K.|last2=Hetherington|first2=L.|last3=Wheeler|first3=S.|title=Second Life: an overview of the potential of 3-D virtual worlds in medical and health education.|journal=Health Information & Libraries Journal|year=2007|volume=24|issue=4|pages=233–245 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-1842.2007.00733.x|pmid=18005298|doi-access=free}}</ref>

There have also been healthcare related studies done of ''SL'' residents.<ref name=Beard2009>{{cite journal |last1=Beard |first1=L. |last2=Wilson |first2=K.|last3=Morra|first3=D.|last4=Keelan|first4=J.|title=A survey of health-related activities on second life |journal=Journal of Medical Internet Research|year=2009|volume=11|issue=2|pmc=2762804|pmid=19632971|doi=10.2196/jmir.1192|pages=e17 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Studies show that behaviors from virtual worlds can translate to the real world. One survey suggests that users are engaged in a range of health-related activities in'' SL'' which are potentially impacting real-life behaviors.<ref name="Beard2009"/>

Another focus of ''SL'' research has included the relationship of avatars or virtual personas to the 'real' or actual person. These studies have included research into social behavior and reported two main implications.<ref name=Harris2009>{{cite journal |last1=Harris |first1=H. |last2=Bailenson|first2=J.N.|last3=Nielsen|first3=A.|last4=Yee|first4=N.|s2cid=1339472|title=The evolution of social behavior over time in second life |journal=Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments|year=2009|volume=18|issue=6|pages=434–448 |doi=10.1162/pres.18.6.434 |citeseerx=10.1.1.363.6225}}</ref> The first is that ''SL'' virtual selves shape users' offline attitudes and behavior. The research indicated that virtual lives and physical lives are not independent, and our appearances and actions have both online and offline consequences.<ref name="Harris2009"/> The second deals with experimental research and supports the idea that virtual environments, such as ''SL'', can enable research programs in that people behave in a relatively natural spread of behavioral patterns.<ref name="Harris2009"/> Remote [[Survey data collection|data collection]] in SL must account for issues related to research participant engagement, burden, retention, and accuracy of data collected.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cook |first1=Sarah L. |last2=Sha |first2=Mandy |last6=Sha |first6=Mandy |date=2016-03-15 |title=Technology options for engaging respondents in self-administered questionnaires and remote interviewing |url=https://www.rti.org/rti-press-publication/technology-options-engaging-respondents-self-administered-questionnaires-and-remote-interviewing |journal=RTI Press |language=en-US |doi=10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0026.1603 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Craig |title=Social Media, Sociality, and Survey Research {{!}} Wiley |url=https://www.wiley.com/en-be/Social+Media%2C+Sociality%2C+and+Survey+Research-p-9781118379738 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Wiley.com |publisher=[[Wiley Publishing]] |language=en-be}}</ref>

[[File:Sl sos.jpg|thumb|A realistic depiction of Earth as shown in the virtual world of ''Second Life'' at [[SciLands]]]]The ''SL'' avatar-self relationship was also studied via resident interviews, and various enactments of the avatar-self relationship were identified. The study concluded that ''SL'' residents enacted multiple avatar-self relationships and cycled through them in quick succession, suggesting that these avatar-self relationships might be shaped and activated strategically to achieve the desired educational, commercial, or therapeutic outcomes.<ref name=Schultze2009>{{cite journal|last1=Schultze|first1=U.|last2=Leahy|first2=M.N.|title=The avatar-self relationship: enacting presence in second life|journal=Icis 2009 Proceedings|url=http://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2009/12/|date=January 2009}}</ref>

Anthropologist Tom Boellstorff describes the anthropological applications of studying ''Second Life'' and its userbase in ''Coming of Age in Second Life: An Anthropologist Explores the Virtually Human.'' Boellstorff explores the relationship between anonymity and community when everyone in a community belongs to varying degrees of anonymity, and how this feeds into the idea of digital collectivity. He also comments on the phenomenon of data becoming "part of social context" that has been observed both inside and outside of ''Second Life'' as surveillance becomes more integrated into everyday life. He stresses the difference between the concepts of anonymity and pseudonymity, identifying ''Second Life'' users as belonging to the latter group of people – though their avatars are not directly linked to their real identities and reputations, they have forged new ones in this online space, a unique effect of creating an online persona in the digital age.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Boellstorff|first=Tom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jW2YDwAAQBAJ&q=second+life&pg=PR9|title=Coming of Age in Second Life: An Anthropologist Explores the Virtually Human|date=2015-08-25|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-16834-0|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Libraries in virtual worlds#Second Life libraries]]
* [[Simulated reality]]
* [[Social simulation game]]
* [[Virtual reality]]
* [[Metaverse]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Hillis, Ken. (2009) ''Online A Lot of the Time''. Durham: Duke University Press (see Chapter 4).0
* Kaplan Andreas M., Haenlein M. (2009) Consumer use and business potential of virtual worlds: The case of Second Life, International Journal on Media Management, 11(3).
* Kaplan Andreas M., Haenlein M. (2009) The fairyland of Second Life: About virtual social worlds and how to use them, Business Horizons, 52(6).
* Olsen, Per; Li Gang, Qin (2011). ''Second Life Love''. A dialog between two partners in Second Life. New York: Lulu Press.
* Martin, Neo; ''Second Life Fraud''. Fraud and intellectual property protection in Second Life. New York: Public Journal
* Robbins, Sarah, and Mark R. Bell. ''Second Life for Dummies''. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., 2008. Print.
* Rymaszewski, Michael. ''Second Life: The Official Guide''. Sybex Inc, 2008. Print.
* Zerzan, John. ''Telos'' 141, ''Second-Best Life: Real Virtuality''. New York: Telos Press Ltd., Winter 2007.
* SK Alamgir Hossain, Abu Saleh Md Mahfujur Rahman, and [[Abdulmotaleb El Saddik]], "Interpersonal haptic communication in second life", in Haptic Audio-Visual Environments and Games (HAVE), 2010 IEEE International Symposium on, October 16–17, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, pp.&nbsp;1–4.
* Taşçı, D., Dinçer, D. "The Creation of Academic Consulting Environment in Virtual Worlds And an Assessment of Challenges Faced by Learners in This Environment", Conference proceedings of "eLearning and Software for Education", 01, 2011, pp.&nbsp;290–296.

== External links ==
{{Sister project links}}
* {{Official website|secondlife.com}}

{{Second Life}}
{{Authority control}}

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