8.4 C
Mönchengladbach
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Advertise with us
MetaverseThe metaverse will be a digital graveyard if we let new technologies...

The metaverse will be a digital graveyard if we let new technologies distract us from today’s problems

The collapse of digital ventures like FTX shows that no amount of hype and starry-eyed proselytising can escape reality

The tiny island nation of Tuvalu recently announced that it would be the first country to fully replicate itself as a virtual reproduction in the metaverse.

Tuvalu, comprising of nine small islands in the Pacific situated between Australia and Hawaii, fears that its demise is inevitable due to human-induced climate change, and wanted to preserve “the most precious assets of its people … and move them to the cloud”.

This fatalism was perhaps part publicity stunt but also part resignation, as the Pacific nation tries to grapple with the looming climate disasters that will hit islands like theirs hardest.

But the idea that it should capture a digital version of itself, a virtual ghost in the shell, belies our flawed attitude towards technology as a saviour and the narrative that new technological worlds will inevitably replace our vibrant physical one.

The metaverse promises to be (it is not yet properly built) a fully immersive, universal virtual world powered by virtual reality and mixed reality technologies. Mark Zuckerberg popularised the term in 2021, when he announced that his company would change its name to Meta and pivot its future towards building metaverse technologies.

Since then, pundits who claimed metaverse expertise emerged seemingly overnight, clamouring to get a piece of the pie of this shiny “new” phenomenon.

This naive futurism expresses itself in different ways – as believers herald more new technological marvels – Web3, cryptocurrency, blockchain, non-fungible tokens. A menu of seemingly incomprehensible and baffling technological prophecies.

But the hype and starry-eyed proselytising could not escape reality, and we are seeing examples of these new technologies collapsing.

Meta’s flagship metaverse project Horizon Worlds is reported to be largely empty and unpopular. Even among those who visit, most don’t stay after their first month. Wall Street Journal reports that of the user-generated worlds in the platform, only about nine percent are visited by more than 50 players. Seems like even Meta employees do not want to use the new Horizon Worlds.

Meta’s stock is experiencing deep crashes, as its dogged investment in the metaverse despite lack of returns and tough economic conditions forced it to lay off 11,000 staff.

FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange once valued at $32bn and considered a linchpin of the Web3 world, has spectacularly flamed out and is now facing liquidation.

This disconnect between the promise of these new technologies and the challenges of today’s problems is rooted in a philosophy preferred by tech evangelists – known as “longtermism”.

Longtermism is the view that we should support world-changing projects – like the colonisation of Mars, private space travel, and Web3 and the metaverse – because the alleged future value these will bring humanity justifies any potential disruption in the present or immediate future.

Longtermism has advocates in the tech barons of today – including Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. For them, the concerns of the present are only worth addressing insofar as they impact on their grandiose visions of the future.

Philosopher and author Émile P. Torres criticises this way of thinking: “Why does Musk care about climate change? Not because of injustice, inequality of human suffering – but because it might snuff us out before we can colonize Mars and spread throughout the universe.”

Longtermism favours an unrealised future over a troubled present, and its believers claim moral authority with vague notions that they are doing things that will allegedly create future value, but never once thinking about the cost borne by society today.

For the island nation of Tuvali, it is heartbreaking to think that they don’t even feel like they have any choice in being able to save their physical, real world community, and all that’s available to them is an abstracted, virtual copy.

If we build new technological worlds at the expense of addressing today’s problems, the metaverse won’t be a shiny new utopia, it will look more like a digital graveyard, full of the lost memories and copies of a world we chose to ignore.

 Jordan Guiao is a research fellow at the Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology. He is the author of new book ‘Disconnect: Why we get pushed to extremes online and how to stop it’

… we have a small favour to ask. Millions are turning to the Guardian for open, independent, quality news every day, and readers in 180 countries around the world now support us financially.

We believe everyone deserves access to information that’s grounded in science and truth, and analysis rooted in authority and integrity. That’s why we made a different choice: to keep our reporting open for all readers, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. This means more people can be better informed, united, and inspired to take meaningful action.

Reviews

Related Articles

POPULAR

The romantic relationship between Ronaldo’s son and Luis Suarez’s daughter was revealed

"Delfina Suarez", the daughter of "Luis Suarez" revealed her romantic relationship by publishing a story with a heart from "Cris Ronaldo Jr.", the son...

Were Jennifer Lawrence nude photos real?

Are Jennifer Lawrence nude photos true?The question that you may ask yourself is whether the images that were published years ago are trueThe answer...

UK Entry requirements

Entry requirements This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport, for the most common...

LATEST POSTS

Salman Khan reaches Mumbai to celebrate his 58th birthday

Salman Khan is celebrating his 58th birthday. He returned to Mumbai to spend his special day with family and close people. It's a big day...

McDonald’s opening hours on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in Cambridgeshire

Although McDonald's is not the first thing that comes to mind for most people on Christmas Day, some might be wondering if they can still pop...

MORE

YOU MAY LIKE

metaverse app, metaverse facebook, metaverse crypto, metaverse zuckerberg, metaverse game, metaverse login, zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, mark zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, live longer for 150 years in metaverse, shib metaverse, gundam metaverse, shiba metaverse, shiba inu coin, shiba inu metaverse, shiba inu, metaverse fashion week, shiba metaverse land, mark zuckerberg, mark zuckerberg metaverse, how to make money in the metaverse, zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse stocks, metaverse logo, nvidia stock, buying real estate in the metaverse, how to invest in the metaverse, bitcoin, metaverse login, how to buy land in metaverse, metaverse headset, how to invest in metaverse, metaverse meaning, metaverse crypto, metaverse stock, metaverse facebook, metaverse coins, metaverse real estate, metaverse etf, metaverse nft, metaverse login, metaverse pro, facebook metaverse, sandbox metaverse, how to invest in metaverse, mark zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse crypto, how to buy land in metaverse, roundhill ball metaverse etf, roblox metaverse, top metaverse coins, apple metaverse, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson ariana grande, pete davidson father, pete davidson tattoos, pete davidson exes, pete davidson wife, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson movies and tv shows, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson height, pete davidson ariana grande, simon rex, kenedi anderson american idol, bebe rexha, billy ray cyrus, pete davidson roast 9/11, walker scobell, is kim kardashian pregnant by pete davidson, tish cyrus, david mamet, wynonna judd, roast of pete davidson, pete davidson bde, is kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, kanye pete davidson boxing, phoebe dynevor and pete davidson, north and pete davidson, daphne bridgerton, pete davidson father 9/11, kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, cam newton, pete davidson and north west, is pete davidson jewish, pete davidson north, kourtney kardashian, pete davidson dad

15 countries YOU MUST VISIT IN your life

15 countries to visit If you are restless enough to start your first adventure, but not quite sure where to start, do not worry. There are many ideal destinations that you will want to visit for...
metaverse app, metaverse facebook, metaverse crypto, metaverse zuckerberg, metaverse game, metaverse login, zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, mark zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, live longer for 150 years in metaverse, shib metaverse, gundam metaverse, shiba metaverse, shiba inu coin, shiba inu metaverse, shiba inu, metaverse fashion week, shiba metaverse land, mark zuckerberg, mark zuckerberg metaverse, how to make money in the metaverse, zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse stocks, metaverse logo, nvidia stock, buying real estate in the metaverse, how to invest in the metaverse, bitcoin, metaverse login, how to buy land in metaverse, metaverse headset, how to invest in metaverse, metaverse meaning, metaverse crypto, metaverse stock, metaverse facebook, metaverse coins, metaverse real estate, metaverse etf, metaverse nft, metaverse login, metaverse pro, facebook metaverse, sandbox metaverse, how to invest in metaverse, mark zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse crypto, how to buy land in metaverse, roundhill ball metaverse etf, roblox metaverse, top metaverse coins, apple metaverse, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson ariana grande, pete davidson father, pete davidson tattoos, pete davidson exes, pete davidson wife, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson movies and tv shows, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson height, pete davidson ariana grande, simon rex, kenedi anderson american idol, bebe rexha, billy ray cyrus, pete davidson roast 9/11, walker scobell, is kim kardashian pregnant by pete davidson, tish cyrus, david mamet, wynonna judd, roast of pete davidson, pete davidson bde, is kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, kanye pete davidson boxing, phoebe dynevor and pete davidson, north and pete davidson, daphne bridgerton, pete davidson father 9/11, kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, cam newton, pete davidson and north west, is pete davidson jewish, pete davidson north, kourtney kardashian, pete davidson dad

When did the world’s first computer start working?

Archaeologists believe that the mysterious machine "Antikythera", which some refer to as the world's first computer, was first launched on December 22, 178 BC. The device, used to predict the moon and determine the timing...

A two-year-old American child ordered 31 cheeseburgers!

Euro international News : In a strange incident in America, a two-year-old child ordered 31 cheeseburgers from a restaurant using his mother's phone! Kelsey Golden, an American mother living in Texas, was busy with her...

Kim Kardashian: I’m ready to eat feces!

American model Kim Kardashian said she has no problem eating feces; Keep him young for a while. "I try everything," the 41-year-old star told the New York Times. If you told me I had to defecate every...

Jessica Alves spent a million pounds to become “Barbie” + pictures

Jessica Alves revealed her face for the first time after undergoing several plastic surgeries to become the human version of the Barbie doll. According to the English website "Liverpool Echo", Jessica Alves, known as "Human...

“Pashtkar” probe managed to record the sound of Martian tornadoes

"Peshtkar" probe managed to record the first audio file of a tornado on the planet Mars. The result of examining the sound recorded from the surface of Mars has been published in the journal "Nature...
Elon Musk Bankrupts Twitter

Elon Musk Uses the QAnon Strategy to Slam the Former Twitter Safety Head! Sam...

Elon Musk uses the QAnon approach to attack the former Twitter safety chief! further tech news; Elon Musk Bunkrupts Twitter Elon Musk Bunkrupts Twitter. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a congressionally...
metaverse app, metaverse facebook, metaverse crypto, metaverse zuckerberg, metaverse game, metaverse login, zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, mark zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, live longer for 150 years in metaverse, shib metaverse, gundam metaverse, shiba metaverse, shiba inu coin, shiba inu metaverse, shiba inu, metaverse fashion week, shiba metaverse land, mark zuckerberg, mark zuckerberg metaverse, how to make money in the metaverse, zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse stocks, metaverse logo, nvidia stock, buying real estate in the metaverse, how to invest in the metaverse, bitcoin, metaverse login, how to buy land in metaverse, metaverse headset, how to invest in metaverse, metaverse meaning, metaverse crypto, metaverse stock, metaverse facebook, metaverse coins, metaverse real estate, metaverse etf, metaverse nft, metaverse login, metaverse pro, facebook metaverse, sandbox metaverse, how to invest in metaverse, mark zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse crypto, how to buy land in metaverse, roundhill ball metaverse etf, roblox metaverse, top metaverse coins, apple metaverse, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson ariana grande, pete davidson father, pete davidson tattoos, pete davidson exes, pete davidson wife, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson movies and tv shows, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson height, pete davidson ariana grande, simon rex, kenedi anderson american idol, bebe rexha, billy ray cyrus, pete davidson roast 9/11, walker scobell, is kim kardashian pregnant by pete davidson, tish cyrus, david mamet, wynonna judd, roast of pete davidson, pete davidson bde, is kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, kanye pete davidson boxing, phoebe dynevor and pete davidson, north and pete davidson, daphne bridgerton, pete davidson father 9/11, kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, cam newton, pete davidson and north west, is pete davidson jewish, pete davidson north, kourtney kardashian, pete davidson dad

15 Best Places to Visit in the World

The world is filled with such a wide variety of wonderful destinations and beautiful places to visit, it can be difficult to compile a list of the best ones. Thinking about a traveler who,...
Killing People In Metaverse: Is It Really A Criminal Offence?

Killing People In Metaverse: Is It Really A Criminal Offence?

If you are wondering what the penalties for murder in the metaverse are, this article is for you. Killing someone is a criminal offense and we don’t actually have to remind you that. But is...
metaverse app, metaverse facebook, metaverse crypto, metaverse zuckerberg, metaverse game, metaverse login, zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, mark zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, live longer for 150 years in metaverse, shib metaverse, gundam metaverse, shiba metaverse, shiba inu coin, shiba inu metaverse, shiba inu, metaverse fashion week, shiba metaverse land, mark zuckerberg, mark zuckerberg metaverse, how to make money in the metaverse, zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse stocks, metaverse logo, nvidia stock, buying real estate in the metaverse, how to invest in the metaverse, bitcoin, metaverse login, how to buy land in metaverse, metaverse headset, how to invest in metaverse, metaverse meaning, metaverse crypto, metaverse stock, metaverse facebook, metaverse coins, metaverse real estate, metaverse etf, metaverse nft, metaverse login, metaverse pro, facebook metaverse, sandbox metaverse, how to invest in metaverse, mark zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse crypto, how to buy land in metaverse, roundhill ball metaverse etf, roblox metaverse, top metaverse coins, apple metaverse, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson ariana grande, pete davidson father, pete davidson tattoos, pete davidson exes, pete davidson wife, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson movies and tv shows, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson height, pete davidson ariana grande, simon rex, kenedi anderson american idol, bebe rexha, billy ray cyrus, pete davidson roast 9/11, walker scobell, is kim kardashian pregnant by pete davidson, tish cyrus, david mamet, wynonna judd, roast of pete davidson, pete davidson bde, is kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, kanye pete davidson boxing, phoebe dynevor and pete davidson, north and pete davidson, daphne bridgerton, pete davidson father 9/11, kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, cam newton, pete davidson and north west, is pete davidson jewish, pete davidson north, kourtney kardashian, pete davidson dad

Mark Zuckerberg loses USD$29 billion overnight as Meta shares crash

Mark Zuckerberg. NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Mark Zuckerberg lost US$29 billion (S$39 billion) in net worth on Thursday (Feb 3) as Meta Platforms' stock marked a record one-day plunge following a disappointing earnings forecast that shook...

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were sentenced without final agreement

The defamation judge between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard on Friday issued the final verdict in the case, eliminating the possibility of any last-minute agreement between the two actors. One of Hurd's representatives stated that...
Cradle-Mountain

10 Best Places to Visit in Australia

Famous for its sandy beaches, sunshine and marsupials, Australia is a dream trip for many travelers worldwide. But visitors are often pleasantly surprised to find that the Lucky Country has much more to offer...
metaverse app, metaverse facebook, metaverse crypto, metaverse zuckerberg, metaverse game, metaverse login, zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, mark zuckerberg stuck in metaverse, live longer for 150 years in metaverse, shib metaverse, gundam metaverse, shiba metaverse, shiba inu coin, shiba inu metaverse, shiba inu, metaverse fashion week, shiba metaverse land, mark zuckerberg, mark zuckerberg metaverse, how to make money in the metaverse, zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse stocks, metaverse logo, nvidia stock, buying real estate in the metaverse, how to invest in the metaverse, bitcoin, metaverse login, how to buy land in metaverse, metaverse headset, how to invest in metaverse, metaverse meaning, metaverse crypto, metaverse stock, metaverse facebook, metaverse coins, metaverse real estate, metaverse etf, metaverse nft, metaverse login, metaverse pro, facebook metaverse, sandbox metaverse, how to invest in metaverse, mark zuckerberg metaverse, best metaverse crypto, how to buy land in metaverse, roundhill ball metaverse etf, roblox metaverse, top metaverse coins, apple metaverse, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson ariana grande, pete davidson father, pete davidson tattoos, pete davidson exes, pete davidson wife, pete davidson net worth, pete davidson kim kardashian, pete davidson movies and tv shows, pete davidson instagram, pete davidson height, pete davidson ariana grande, simon rex, kenedi anderson american idol, bebe rexha, billy ray cyrus, pete davidson roast 9/11, walker scobell, is kim kardashian pregnant by pete davidson, tish cyrus, david mamet, wynonna judd, roast of pete davidson, pete davidson bde, is kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, kanye pete davidson boxing, phoebe dynevor and pete davidson, north and pete davidson, daphne bridgerton, pete davidson father 9/11, kim kardashian pregnant with pete davidson, cam newton, pete davidson and north west, is pete davidson jewish, pete davidson north, kourtney kardashian, pete davidson dad

Zaporozhye nuclear power plant; Russia took control of the plant after the shelling

Russia has taken control of Ukraine, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, after the shelling. A fire broke out at midnight last night after the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant came under fire. Officials at the plant say...
WhatsApp 3D Avatar

WhatsApp Launches 3D Avatars

WhatsApp Launches 3D Avatars. The 3D Avatar Feature was available on Facebook and Instagram, but now it is going to come to other Meta-based platforms and specifically on WhatsApp. The most popular Snapchat Feature,...

New update on Twitter; “Shadowban” user accounts are notified

Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter, announced that a proper mechanism will be implemented to prevent blocking and hiding accounts without users' knowledge. "Twitter is working on a software update that will show you the actual...
\