The idea of the Metaverse first came to be when author Neal Stephenson released his science fiction novel “Snow Crash” in 1992. The novel introduced the idea of the Metaverse, which is essentially a collective term used to describe a virtual, immersive reality where users can use digital avatars to interact and socialize with one another.
Examples of the Metaverse include VR (virtual reality), which many of the younger generations have become quite familiar with. This virtual reality allows individuals to express themselves however they desire to, and is a more accessible version of our real life. Within the Metaverse, anything is possible with the simple click of a button. This obviously makes work more convenient for many employees, and makes life much easier and more entertaining for various individuals.
However, despite these positive changes that the Metaverse has issued, many scientists and technologists argue that the Metaverse could blur the boundaries between reality and simulation. Many argue that it may not be a beneficial form of technology, and it is truly only harmful in the long run. They argue that the Metaverse collects tons of information and data about various individuals, and the storage of that data concerns many scientists. Psychologists are also worried about the addictions of such realities, and the delusions that many may develop due to it. Individuals sometimes have a hard time differentiating between what is real and what is simply entertainment, and a virtual reality might begin to blur the lines between reality and what is virtual and essentially fake. Many are worried that individuals might begin to live in virtual worlds for too long due to this.
While the Metaverse and virtual reality can be a great alternative to real life activities, such as entertainment, online meetings, and job related activities, individuals must recognize that things don’t come without consequences. This has technologists, scientists, and as mentioned earlier even psychologists torn between the ethics of using virtual reality and normalizing that idea. It’s quite similar to the introduction of phones, while phones make connection and survival much easier, there are various dangerous issues that have arisen after the release of this type of technology. Virtual reality raises the same types of concerns and dangers, but on a much larger scale. Phones are not immersive in the sense that the Metaverse is, and sometimes immersive content might disturb human psychology.
Whilst being a great form of entertainment and technology, the Metaverse and virtual reality raise ethical and safety concerns for humanity. The truth of life is that nothing comes without consequence, so saying that the Metaverse should be completely avoided would not necessarily be correct due to the immense amount of positive change that would arise with the release of such helpful technology. Workspaces, relationships, environments, and lives would be changed for the better and make life’s necessities much more accessible. However, it would be a lie to say that managing the Metaverse with care would not be a necessary and vital. The Metaverse needs to be kept under control, so as not to confuse people between what is real and what is simply a simulation. There has to be a line drawn.
By: Farida Ezzat
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