Although the precise nature of the metaverse remains unclear, Facebook’s intended application is not.
Since Mark Zuckerberg first mentioned the “metaverse” and Facebook officially changed its name to Meta, people online have been at a loss to explain the concept. Although we have an explanation of the metaverse, it is based on indistinct promises from Facebook. There’s no crystallized picture of Meta’s goals, but I think I have a hunch.
Facebook’s metaverse is a ruse to hide the fact that the company intends to exert hegemonic control over the majority of people’s interactions with its platform’s underlying technology.
Is that completely insane to you? Look at Facebook, for example. It’s a social media platform used by billions to keep in touch and read the “news,” but it’s been under scrutiny for years for allegedly manipulating users and the public at large.
Making money off of false claims about everything from cigarettes to elections to vaccines, aiding and abetting extremists, and (this one really hurts as someone who works in the industry) releasing inflated data on its video viewership, which caused many media outlets to change their approach and lay off employees.
Is a loved one’s refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine putting their life at risk? Some Facebook groups likely warned them about potential threats. Is a trusted source spreading false information that the 2020 election will be stolen? Most likely, they heard about “fraud” on Facebook. Are you already pissed off at me to the point where you’ll leave a comment on this article about vaccines and voting? The last time you logged into Facebook?
Is Unable Escape Facebook
It’s true that Facebook has (supposedly) engaged in some shady practices. Where is the connection to the metaverse in that? Yes, it’s the same corporation behind both Facebook and Meta; its declared goal is to become the “next generation of social interaction.” Using technologies like VR, AR, and smart displays, the company plans to unite users under a unified umbrella.
Facebook is immensely popular and can be accessed from a wide variety of devices, including desktop and mobile computers, smartphones, virtual reality goggles, and Facebook’s own Portal smart displays. However, it is still just a social networking platform, a stream of posts joined with private messaging, a marketplace, and video capabilities (whether or not the numbers are fabricated).
To see whether someone close by is selling a used Game Boy, as well as to keep tabs on friends and family and any breaking news, Facebook is the place to go. This is a stand-alone service, nothing more.
The goal of the metaverse is to make Facebook into something even more vital to society by fusing it with virtual reality headsets, augmented reality displays, smart glasses, and other experiences. This is outlined very clearly in Mark Zuckerberg‘s hour-long presentation (above) to the metaverse, demonstrating how VR and AR will allow you to connect with your loved ones in new and exciting ways. And that’s where it goes from being a little goofy to a lot sinister.
Bear in mind that Facebook is a service that can wait till you return. It appears on the screen until the focus shifts. The goal of the metaverse is to do away with these limits, making Facebook into an ever-present entity that you can’t escape.
Instead of chatting separately, you might all experience a concert in VR together. When augmented reality provides even more content, why use only your senses to take it all in? Instead of pulling out your phone, you can just wear a camera and start sharing photographs and videos instantly. If the metaverse can perform any task right before your eyes, there’s no reason to look elsewhere.
Incredible as it may seem, the vast majority of these technologies already exist and are available to consumers (excellent, affordable AR screens are still a work in progress). Oculus has been under Facebook’s control for a long time now.
The Ray-Ban Stories app is Facebook’s latest foray into the world of smart eyewear (before that, there were Snapchat Spectacles). These aren’t brand-new ideas; rather, they’re being developed further so that they blend into the Facebook ecosystem rather than existing as distinct add-ons. It’s as much about marketing and public image as it is about technical advancements.
Also Read:-What is the VR? How is Virtual Reality Made Possible?
Subject in Lowercase
The fact that the term “metaverse” is not capitalised is a huge red flag, suggesting it is part of a plan to make Facebook the dominant social and technology platform.
Every single piece of material shared by Meta/Facebook refers to the metaverse as just “metaverse,” never “Metaverse.” That’s a huge distinction in terms of advertising, public image, and the sense of pride of ownership. Facebook operates a platform called the Metaverse. Essentially, Facebook owns every aspect of the metaverse, which is a catchall term for all of our online interactions.
The term “metaverse” was chosen on purpose, and imagining the future of the internet in these terms is more than just a flight of fancy. Even as it constructs the foundations of the metaverse and turns it into an united platform over which it has ultimate control, Facebook is making an effort to detach the concept from its identity and make it a broad concept of what it will eventually mean to be online.
It’s terrifying to think about a future where everything happens on Facebook or Meta. It’s a world where that one firm controls everything: your surroundings, your media consumption, and your social interactions. It’s blatantly dystopian and strips the reader of the illusion of free will. The Metaverse is envisioned as a single, all-encompassing label.
Yet what about the metaverse? Just the modern internet, I suppose. Anywhere in the metaverse is open to you. In a sense, Meta owns this service and that device, but they certainly don’t control the metaverse. This is simply the journey we’re on at the moment.
This may seem absurd at first, but think about how valuable most companies’ brands actually are. All the things it manages should have their own unique brand names, trademarks, and copyrights to show that they are exclusive to that firm.
Making your product or service stand out from the crowd is crucial when marketing to the general public. Don’t waste your money on alternative dog food, television, or delivery service. The clue is in the name: ours is loaded with the good stuff.
When will Meta make it apparent that it intends to rule the Metaverse? If you own the entire platform and can get it in front of a large enough audience, you won’t need to invest as much in advertising as you would if you had to compete with another company.
You are already in control of everything; new entrants, however tiny, will face a very high barrier to entry and expansion costs that you have set for them. If your company’s name isn’t associated with the site, it won’t be as closely tied to any negative publicity or scandal that may have plagued it.
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Different Sharks in the Water
Facebook/strategy Meta’s appears to consist on consolidating technologies, disseminating a broad concept, and obscuring its own ownership of a vast platform. And, let’s face it, Facebook’s already substantial influence indicates that it may succeed.
This is not confirmed, however. As grandiose as the metaverse is, it is now far too unclear for customers to have more than a passing curiosity. This is a fairly comprehensive approach with multiple angles, and many of these aspects are difficult to sell to customers, already have significant competition that could compete with Facebook, or both.
Facebook owns Oculus, while HTC and Valve are also prominent VR companies. Facebook’s Portal smart screens are at best a distant third behind Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. Facebook is developing its own augmented reality (AR) glasses as part of Project Nazare(Opens in a new window), although it seems unlikely that they will be commercially accessible anytime soon. Every battle that Facebook/Meta loses is a massive chunk removed from the metaverse. Will the Facebook version be capitalised? We must wait and see.
