The metaverse can potentially change how we interact with online worlds completely. This is true for almost every online service. For example, you can even find virtual buildings where you can try games that are normally found on sites like ice casino in the metaverse. However, the online service most affected by this technology is social media platforms, because these platforms, which are based on interaction, can take user engagement to completely different dimensions thanks to metaverse features. This is more than just enhancing engagement: even the way we communicate with each other and express ourselves is changing. With tools that allow you to create AI pictures, users can craft unique digital identities, making interactions in the metaverse even more immersive and personal.
Redefining Social Interactions
On traditional social media platforms, there are a limited number of ways for users to communicate and interact with each other. They are all either text-based or image-based: we can chat with other users by typing or we can use emojis. Digital ecosystems offer much more than that:
- Users can communicate with each other by walking around in immersive 3D spaces with customizable avatars.
- These spaces are dynamic environments and vary in both their content and interactable elements. For example, you can have your avatar sit at a table, just like in real life.
- Communication is predominantly voice-based and therefore much more authentic. Your avatar communicates by talking to other avatars. Text-based chat is supported, but it is only there as an alternative: it is used by almost no one.
Using these metaverse elements instead of text-based messages and static images allows for more authentic interactions that mimic real-life experiences. Similarly, the sense of community that is quite difficult to achieve on traditional social media can be easily achieved in virtual worlds.
The Role of Avatars in Identity Expression
The main reason why the metaverse has changed social interaction so much is because of avatars. They are more than virtual models: each avatar is an expression of the user’s identity, and there is nothing like them in traditional social media. Once again, all a user can use to express themselves is a static profile picture. A 3D avatar, on the other hand, can reflect individual personalities and preferences.
This level of customization allows users to explore different aspects of their identity in a safe environment. For example, someone who is quite shy in real life might define themselves as a “superhero” in the metaverse and interact in line with this role. Avatars are therefore at the core of this technology and what makes it different.
The variety of things you can do with them is also impressive. An avatar is not just a 3D model that allows you to communicate in real time. You can use it to attend virtual concerts, participate in virtual gaming tournaments, or even hold business meetings in virtual office buildings. These are all highly immersive experiences, transforming social media from a passive activity to an engaging platform. During the pandemic, there were even companies that tried to run remote work via the metaverse.
Decentralization and User Empowerment
The decentralized structure of the metaverse is another feature that allows it to change social media. Traditional platforms are businesses owned by a specific person or company. The type, content, or scope of their services can suddenly change. For example, it is theoretically possible for Facebook to stop accepting members from the Asian region tomorrow. The problem is not whether this can be done or not, of course, a company like Facebook does not want to lose a huge market. The problem is that this is possible, and no one knows what the future holds.
Metaverse worlds are built on the decentralization of blockchain technology. Their servers cannot be shut down, access to them cannot be blocked, and they do not have a single owner. Users decide on the future of the platform as a community. Such autonomy provides much more freedom, and users have more control over their content and interactions. For example, you can sell an NFT you obtained in a metaverse world in the real world.
Challenges and Considerations
Such a technology, while potentially revolutionizing social media, will also cause some problems. For example, privacy and security concerns will increase – the deeper you engage with digital worlds, the harder it will be to protect personal information. Without innovative methods for user privacy and security, virtual worlds will be even more dangerous.
These worlds also pose a risk of social isolation. For some users, they could completely replace the real world – the number of users who want to spend the rest of their lives in a virtual world with VR headsets will be considerable. Speaking of VR headsets, it is also important to remember that this technology will be more limited in terms of accessibility. Acquiring the equipment needed to access the metaverse can require a large budget and, for the same reason, it may not be accessible for lots of people.