Facebook and Instagram now fall under the Meta group — a move that supports CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse vision. People may wonder: Will this name change affect the digital marketing industry? How will it affect a brand’s online presence and a person’s online shopping experience?
Meta confirms through a Facebook Newsroom article that its focus will be to bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. I’m here to delve deeper into what this strategy means for your internet interactions.
What Is the Metaverse?
In 1992, Neal Stephenson coined the term metaverse in his novel Snow Crash. The science-fiction epic took place in two parallel worlds — the primary physical realm Reality and the digital space Metaverse existing alongside it.
Just like in the novel, one can deduce that Meta’s goal is to build a lifelike online space. It should bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds.
Imagine the metaverse-themed 2011 novel-turned-movie Ready Player One. The digital platform OASIS gives people an escape from society through realistic interactions. Inside the virtual reality world, players can join quests, hunt Easter eggs, and compete with other people for treasure. Ultimately, Meta will transform the way you interact with other individuals in the metaverse, just how James Halliday did for the OASIS.
How Will the Metaverse Change Our Digital Lives?
The metaverse brings the physical and virtual worlds together. Through your avatar, you can connect with people for work, play, or random social interactions.
Today, the world is experiencing the internet in its 2D phase, where you can post, share, and comment on social media pages. However, the metaverse will take these connections up a notch in a new 3D phase.
In a metaverse social setting, you can interact with people in virtual reality-style instead of just leaving a thumbs up or heart sign. You can perform all tasks that you would in a physical setting, from attending work meetings to concerts to sightseeing tours. You can even enjoy classroom-like learning or try on clothes before you purchase them.
For brands and individuals alike, the possibilities are endless in this virtual space. You can use tools like crawl bots and cookies to create authentic relationships with people on the other side of the screen.
Metaverse Benefits
The global pandemic propelled digitization by years, which enhanced technological capabilities in the metaverse. Although intimidating, the metaverse does have a few benefits.
Create Affordable Services
The metaverse will exponentially increase the affordability of countless products and services, enabling the lower and middle classes to enjoy luxuries only the wealthy could afford in the past. For instance, you can gain access to entertainment libraries, high-quality interactions with people abroad, and top-notch travel simulations.
Enhance Remote Work Settings
Now that remote or hybrid work is here to stay, you can use the metaverse to elevate communications between employees. Depending on your company culture, you can develop a tracking system to monitor productivity.
Improve Gaming Experiences
The metaverse concept already exists in games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Second Life, but technological advances can improve their playing, creating, and socializing aspects. In due time, players can explore bigger virtual spaces.
Final Thoughts
Now that the biggest social media names have undergone rebranding, many companies will surely follow their metaverse vision. The Meta group has invested considerable time and money to develop the necessary technology, and it will surely be a digital world game-changer.
Let us know if you want to be a metaverse pioneer. Our full-service team can help you thrive on this platform. Request a complimentary consultation with us today.