This communication introduces v-Social Work, a pioneering project initiated in 2024. Currently in its field research phase, it establishes the groundwork for a Virtual Social Services Center through systematic participant observation. The methodology involves three researchers conducting 30 hours of fieldwork across Decentraland and VRChat. Each researcher performs five one-hour sessions per platform at varied times (morning, midday, and night), following a structured observation guide. The selection of Decentraland (text-based chat) and VRChat (voice-based communication) allows for a comparative analysis of how interaction modes influence social dynamics, conflicts, and professional intervention. Unlike e-Social Work, which uses technology to address physical-world issues, v-Social Work intervenes directly within virtual social environments. The presentation discusses preliminary findings regarding anonymity, structural inequalities, and cyberbullying in these spaces. We propose that v-Social Work be recognized as an emerging field of professional practice, essential for promoting social justice and human rights in the digital environments where a significant portion of contemporary social life now unfolds.

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Metaverse,V-Social Work,Digital Social Justice,Social Intervention,Decentraland,VRChat.