A new study published in Frontiers in Virtual Reality suggests that an innovative virtual reality training platform can help individuals overcome their fear of public speaking. The research found that after just one 30-minute session using the platform, participants reported feeling less anxious and more confident about speaking in front of an audience. The platform, designed by Chris Macdonald, a Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, employs an approach called overexposure therapy, which places users in extreme speaking environments—such as a stadium filled with 10,000 virtual spectators—to build resilience.
Public speaking is often reported as one of the most common fears, affecting people across all age groups and professions. Studies suggest that this fear is becoming more prevalent, contributing to significant negative consequences for mental health, education, and career advancement. People who struggle with public speaking anxiety may avoid opportunities that require them to speak in front of others, which can limit their professional growth and personal development.
Traditional treatment options, such as exposure therapy, have proven effective, but they come with challenges. Exposure therapy gradually introduces individuals to anxiety-inducing situations, helping them build confidence over time. However, access to in-person therapy can be costly and time-consuming, and many individuals avoid seeking treatment due to the fear of confronting their anxiety directly. Virtual reality exposure therapy has emerged as an alternative, providing a safe, controlled environment where users can practice public speaking.
Macdonald’s new platform takes virtual reality exposure therapy a step further by making it more accessible and effective. Unlike previous systems that require expensive virtual reality headsets and guided therapy sessions, this platform is free to use and compatible with multiple devices, including smartphones. This makes it possible for anyone with internet access to benefit from the program.
“I wanted to build something that is not only highly effective but that can and will be used by those who need it the most,” Macdonald said. “As a result, it was essential to gather diverse user feedback from a variety of settings. The lab cannot develop in a silo, it needs to work closely with end users. Through constant public engagement, we can maximise our positive impact and ensure that we remain deeply grounded in public service.”
To test the effectiveness of the platform, researchers conducted an experiment with 29 adolescents aged 13 to 15. The participants, all from China, were attending a summer program in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The goal of the study was to assess whether using the platform for a short period could improve their confidence and reduce their anxiety about speaking in English.
Before the session, the students were asked to prepare a one-minute introduction about themselves in English. They were then guided through a relaxation technique known as the 4–7–8 breathing method, which involves inhaling for four seconds, holding for seven seconds, and exhaling for eight seconds.
The main training session lasted 30 minutes and exposed participants to increasingly challenging virtual audiences. They started in a simulated empty classroom and gradually worked up to addressing a stadium filled with thousands of photorealistic, animated spectators. These virtual audiences reacted in real time, with features like head-scratching, yawning, and spontaneous distractions such as late arrivals and flashing cameras, creating a highly immersive environment.
At the end of the session, each student gave a presentation in front of a real audience consisting of their classmates and staff members. The researchers collected survey data before and after the session to measure changes in anxiety, confidence, and enjoyment of public speaking.
The results showed a striking improvement in all three measures. Before the training session, 65% of participants described themselves as anxious public speakers. Afterward, that number dropped to just 20%. Confidence levels saw a significant increase, with the percentage of students who identified as confident public speakers rising from 31% to 79%. Enjoyment of public speaking also improved, with the number of students who said they liked speaking in front of others jumping from 34% to 86%.
Statistical analysis confirmed that these changes were not due to chance. The study found a medium effect size for all three measures, indicating a meaningful impact on participants’ attitudes toward public speaking.
One of the most interesting findings was that placing participants in extreme virtual environments—such as a noisy stadium with 10,000 spectators—appeared to make real-life public speaking situations feel easier by comparison. This aligns with the principles of overexposure therapy, where individuals train in high-pressure situations so that more typical challenges feel less intimidating.
Macdonald explained, “Prior to a presentation, most students tend to practice on their own, in a highly-controlled environment—normally in their bedrooms to an ‘audience’ of zero. As a result, it will feel like a significant ‘step up’ when they present to even a small group of people—and even a subtle audience gesture can throw them off. By contrast, students who use the VR platform can practice in a different venue every night to a wide range of highly distracting audiences and fear-inducing scenarios.
“They can, for example, practice in a stadium in front of 10,000 animated spectators, with loud noises, stadium lights, and flashing cameras. Accordingly, a subsequent presentation to a small group can feel like a significant ‘step down’. The data shows that this process not only increases confidence, adaptability, and resilience but also the enjoyment of public speaking. Students are enjoying the challenge of pushing themselves and progressing to each new level. This increased enjoyment is highly encouraging because we know that fear and anxiety are maintained or worsened through avoidance.”
While the study’s findings are promising, there are limitations. The study involved a small sample size of 29 participants, all of whom were adolescents from a specific cultural background. Further research is needed to determine whether the platform is equally effective for different age groups, professional speakers, and individuals with varying levels of social anxiety.
Additionally, the study only measured short-term effects. Future research should explore whether the benefits of using the platform persist over time and whether repeated use leads to long-term improvements in public speaking ability.
There is also room for further refinement of the training protocol. The study combined relaxation techniques with exposure to challenging scenarios, following the traditional approach of systematic desensitization. However, some researchers argue that the key factor in reducing anxiety is simply repeated exposure, without the need for relaxation techniques. Future studies could compare different approaches to determine the most effective training method.
Another avenue for research is the exploration of different settings for self-guided use. The current study was conducted in a classroom environment, but since the platform is designed for accessibility, future studies could test its effectiveness when used at home, in libraries, or in professional training programs.
Macdonald hopes that by making the platform freely available and compatible with widely used devices, it will reach a broad audience and help individuals who might not otherwise seek treatment for public speaking anxiety.
“Speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking impact most people, and it is becoming increasingly more common over time,” he said. “This is concerning because we know that it is detrimental to mental health, physical health, academic attainment, and career progression. Therefore, the problem is prevalent, it is getting worse, it is causing harm, and ultimately, it is capping human potential. However, this no longer needs to be the case. If you or anyone you know would like to become a skilled and confident public speaker, there is now an effective and accessible solution—please do make use of it.”
“It is very promising to see how effective the platform is given that we already know ways to make it even more effective. However, to continue its development, expand it long-term, and launch additional features and platforms, we need funding. Therefore, I encourage philanthropists and sponsors to reach out. We are data-driven and uniquely committed to impact at scale. With the right funding, together, we could transform millions of lives.”
“The platform has immense potential to empower individuals to overcome their fear of public speaking, ultimately enhancing not only their quality of life but also their capacity to become a driving force of positive change in the world,” Macdonald continued. “I set out with a simple but ambitious mission: make the most effective treatment for the most common fear and make it freely accessible to all. With the public launch of the free platform, I believe I have achieved that. Please do use it. It will transform your life and greatly expand your opportunities.”
The study, “Improving virtual reality exposure therapy with open access and overexposure: a single 30-minute session of overexposure therapy reduces public speaking anxiety,” was published December 15, 2024.
