Is it just me? Or, has the metaverse snuck up and arrived?
Some see the metaverse as an immersive digital experience. Others imagine an augmented-reality world where digital objects appear real. So far, we’re just getting glimpses.
So, what is it?
From what I can tell, the metaverse is a mystery, a digital G-Spot that’s hard to pinpoint. But when you do, the payoff is amazing.
Elon Musk calls the metaverse “more of a marketing gimmick than a practical notion.” Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek is on the fence. “We tend not to use the M word too often, because it has a lot of hair on it.” Mark Zuckerberg describes the metaverse as “the embodied internet.” But in the year since Facebook became Meta, their stock has fallen 75% and Zuck just announced mass layoffs.
Clearly, he doesn’t know either.
For those who want to build a virtual world, companies like Decentraland can plant your flag in the Metaverse. They’ll sell you a digital plot and a house to host events. A surprising number of brands have taken the plunge into the virtual pool. Fortnite is streaming digital concerts. Capitol Records just debuted a virtual robot rapper named FN Meka and Taco Bell’s latest contest offers a wedding in the metaverse.
So, is it time to burn the boats and enter the metaverse?
Here’s my take. There’s no doubt that virtual reality will transform everything from surgical techniques to online gaming to 3D porn.
But here’s my concern.
Working remotely pushed us into workplace silos, which led to less personal engagement and human interaction. Screens replaced face time. I fear that the metaverse takes us farther down that rabbit hole where users get deeper into isolation.
Our planet is rich with natural beauty. So, the next time you feel a screaming need to escape reality, step outside and take a walk.
