Over the last two years, the metaverse has attracted the attention of wealthy businessmen and naive pundits. There is only one problem: the hype is all bullshit.
When the corporation formerly known as Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms, metaverse enthusiasm reached a fever pitch. But it’s still unclear what “metaverse” means to companies like Meta; some propose a kind of digital paradise, like OASIS in Ready Player One, without asking whether consumers want it.
Others, such as Mark Zuckerberg, see a virtual reality version of our everyday lives, where everything from shopping to work get-togethers takes place. To put it another way, it’s a nightmare.
Maybe that’s part of the appeal. It’s difficult to fail if you keep it ambiguous enough.