1. The future of the internet, Are we entering a new era of digital reality?

Facebook, the world’s leading social media platform, changed its name to Meta in 2021 and announced the company’s plan to create a 3D version of the internet. In this massive virtual world (known as “the metaverse”), users will be able to collaborate with coworkers, play games, and hang out with friends in an online space where the possibilities are limitless. The ideas put forward by Meta sound exciting, but are they actually new? What’s more, will they be popular?

2. Basic description of a metaverse

A metaverse is a 3D virtual world in which real people interact with each other and their digital environment. Although the term “metaverse” was first used in a science-fiction novel, the concept is quickly taking shape. Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), such as Minecraft and Fortnite, take place in vast 3D worlds where real people interact as avatars. In these virtual landscapes, users can explore, create, and expand the online environment. In the game Second Life, which was launched in 2003, users can do everyday activities in a virtual environment. They can earn money, shop, attend college or business meetings, and even go to rock concerts.

3. Key features of a metaverse

Not every online virtual world is a metaverse. According to tech expert Matthew Ball, there are certain key features that define a metaverse. Firstly, a metaverse continues forever—it does not stop or reset, and there is no limit to the number of users. Another important aspect of a metaverse is that users interact in real-time. Users can create experiences in a metaverse and help to construct the environment. Furthermore, a metaverse has its own functioning economy. Users can trade and invest within the online environment just as they do in the real world.

4. A mixed reality

Metaverses may not be new, but most existing virtual worlds cannot be described as a “fully immersive” experience—one in which the user feels “truly present.” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s goal is to create a social network of “mixed reality” in which the user can easily jump between the real world and their virtual environment. Zuckerberg hopes that cutting‑edge virtual reality hardware, such as VR headsets, will mean that users have “a deep feeling of presence” in the online world they enter while remaining grounded in the real world around them. In this sense, Meta will be a completely new social media experience.

5. Concerns about Meta’s plans

Mark Zuckerberg argues that his vision for Meta represents the future of the internet, but the idea has its critics. Some experts worry that some users may become addicted to the virtual environment, resulting in mental and physical health issues. Others worry about information privacy as companies could gather large amounts of data from hardware like VR headsets. Some question whether user interactions will be regulated or policed, and they are concerned about how much control Meta will have over the environment. However, it is early days for the metaverse, and the company may find ways to address these issues before their virtual world becomes a reality.