Facebook faces one of its worst crises in history after a series of documents were leaked about negligence in content moderation, in the crosshairs of regulators and lawmakers – the company’s downturn has also testified in the US Senate and There is strong pressure on the performance of the company. . But apparently, Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy has been to look the other way and build a new brand from almost anywhere that will represent the new focus of his business in something called the Metaverse.
With this, the company will work with a focus not only on social networks but also on a larger virtual world. The strategy, of course, seems convenient at a time when the company needs to flee scams in a new era. The company’s own name may be changed as a result of a shift to the Metaverse.
The nomenclature was disclosed by a website specializing in the technology ledge. For the Metaverse project alone, Facebook has already allocated over US$50 million. However, even though the term has been in the headlines, its concept is still unknown – it is a bit difficult to understand.
What is Metaverse?
Metaverse is a broad term. It usually refers to the shared virtual world environment that people can access via the Internet. The term can refer to digital spaces that become more realistic with the use of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR).
Some also use the term Metaverse to describe the game world, in which users have a character who can move around and interact with other players. Many science fiction books and movies, for example, are set entirely in metaverse-alternative digital worlds that are indistinguishable from the actual physical world. But it’s still fiction. Today, most virtual spaces look more like the interior of a video game than real life.
However, the growing interest in this alternate world can be seen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As more people started working and attending school remotely, there was a growing demand for ways to make online interactions more realistic.
Facebook now has more than 10,000 employees focusing on building tools, such as augmented reality glasses, that will help reach the company’s metaverse. In Zuckerberg’s vision, these devices will be as ubiquitous as smartphones in the future. In September, the company announced a $50 million investment to build the Metaverse: resources will be used over two years to ensure that Metaverse technologies are “built in an inclusive and empowering way.”
The company also said that it plans to work with researchers in four areas, including privacy and data security, to help users if anything in the metaverse causes them inconvenience.
Thus, Zuckerberg found an ideal path for his interests: Investing in a new concept not only diverts attention away from the reality the company is living in, but also puts Facebook in the position of an explorer of new land ( where it is possible to better ‘control’ overlooked aspects of technology).
Facebook is not leading
Metaverse Idea is attracting a lot of interest from investors and companies wanting to be part of the next big thing. Zuckerberg said in July that the company would seek to transform from a social media company to a metaverse company in the next ten to fifteen years. That’s where the billionaire’s intended rebranding opportunity for WhatsApp, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, comes in.
However, the term is popular in Silicon Valley and the actions are not typical of Facebook. Microsoft also has teams developing these technologies, citing the convergence of the digital and physical worlds. Also, the popular children’s game Roblox, which debuted on the New York Stock Exchange in March, describes itself as a Metaverse company. Fortnite is also considered part of the Metaverse by Epic Games.
One example of how these technologies can turn into useful tools is Google, which is developing a feature called Project Starline. It simulates a holographic video call between users. Through high-resolution cameras, the impression is that callers are talking from a window or a wall of glass. Facebook might want to go even beyond the Google project.
One of the features that helped create the metaverse is the interaction between the virtual world and the real world. In Fortnite, musicians can perform virtual concerts within the platform – with ticket sales and audiences interacting with each other. In September, for example, millions of people watched singer Ariana Grande perform virtually in Fortnite, Epic Games said. This is the VIP area of the digital world.
The metaverse isn’t limited to concerts. The world’s biggest fashion companies such as Herms, Burberry and Valentino have also turned their catwalks into virtual rugs, with avatars of pieces that people can use in metaverse environments.
Fans of the Metaverse believe that this is the next stage in the development of the Internet. At this time people interact with each other online by accessing websites like social media platforms or using messaging apps. The idea of the Metaverse is to create new online spaces where people’s interactions can be more multifaceted, where users can immerse themselves in digital content instead of just watching it./ with Reuters
