The Metaverse

by JOSH FORBES '23

Think about how often you pick up your phone every day. A study conducted in 2019 showed that Americans pick up their phone 96 times a day.1 This is a 20 percent increase from a similar study done two years prior, and a 100 percent increase from 25 years prior, when the first smartphone was released for sale. In a span of just 25 years, a piece of technology went from something only to be dreamed of in science fiction novels to something that most people in a modern society cannot live without. The same can be said for both computers and the internet, both things that changed the lives of the modern citizen.

A few months ago, Facebook announced that they would be changing the name of their parent company to Meta, and in doing so ignited a discussion on the metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, cites that the name change comes with a complete change in focus, and rather than focusing on social media, the company will now focus on “building the future of social connection.”1 So what exactly is the metaverse? What does Zuckerberg mean by social connection? Maybe he means it’s the future of social media. Maybe it’s the future of the entire internet? Or, considering the smartphone trend, could it really be the future of all socialization—interacting with friends, brokering business deals, participating in events?

Nobody really knows what the metaverse is. The first misconception people have about the metaverse is that it is new. In reality, the phrase originated in a sci-fi novel called Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, published in 1992. In this story, the metaverse is a virtual world that is accessible to users through virtual reality headsets. Today virtual reality has been around for years as a gaming platform, with publishers such as Valve already having virtual reality headsets designed for home use, usually connected to a computer. However, Facebook entered the virtual reality scene a long time ago, acquiring the company Oculus, which created a completely wireless virtual reality experience. When you boot up your computer, from your desktop you can select a number of things to do. The Oculus Rift is similar, but instead of being confined to a mere desktop, when you put on the headset you are greeted by a virtual lounge, from which you can select your game of choice. This technology has been revolutionary. Games such as Virtual Reality Chat, an experience designed simply to chat with other headset users, have gained immense popularity and garnered a cult following within a few years. Furthermore, virtual reality gear isn’t nec-

essary to access the metaverse just like a computer isn’t necessary to use the internet, which means it is readily available. So, what is to stop companies from holding meetings in virtual reality? Why not have a job in virtual reality?

The reason there isn’t a clear definition for Zuckerberg’s metaverse is because nobody knows how this virtual reality will be used. For example, just because I create a world in virtual reality doesn’t mean anyone will visit it, similar to how just because I create a website doesn’t mean anyone will visit it. However, there is a chance that someone will visit it. And if it has a lot to offer, there is also a chance that a lot of people will visit it. The metaverse is sort of like the internet in that regard; there’s a lot of potential for site creators but very few may actually thrive on it. The revolutionary part of the technology is that it is taking the concept of a computer or website and making it 3D as opposed to simple 2D. This added immersion is not only insanely addicting, but it also functions closer to the real world. If a virtual world becomes popular enough, what’s to stop the creator from selling virtual real estate, much like you would sell ad space on your website? That is why mega corporations like Facebook are getting involved; because they want to be the first to own that virtual land in order to make a profit on it. Even better, they want to push people to use their servers, creating a completely new world with landlords, minimum wage workers, and of course, garbage workers. And if Facebook is the one creating this whole new world, they by default become the god of that world. Who wouldn’t want that kind of power?

So, what does this all ultimately mean? At the end of the day, not all that much at the moment. Facebook will likely continue to develop their digital realm, which they call Facebook Horizon, and the technology will develop to be better, faster, and more immersive. Eventually however, as a society, we will have a choice to make. COVID has turned so many jobs into remote jobs that the idea of living your entire life at home is not too far off. As the metaverse continues to develop, it will likely offer a tempting escape from the real world by giving users complete control over how they look, act, and work with a simple push of a button.

However, virtual reality can never be a complete replacement for actual interaction. The choice is to accept the metaverse or to reject it. In my opinion, the metaverse is the easy way out. While it may seem cool to experience video games in virtual reality, that is as far as the technology should be pushed. Once you take the person out of interpersonal relationships, you are left with a shallow husk of real communication. We’ve seen this with the rise of social media and the incredible detriment it has had on the so-called “iPad generation.” If we offer them this technology, they may not see a reason to ever socialize in person ever again. The lures of a digital world are a siren’s call; the convenience provided blinds society to the falsification of their relationships. The metaverse is coming. Will you be one to fall into its snare?