Hey there! It’s Chip Polina. Recently, I was on another so-so date, and while getting home, I was dreaming of a better place to meet new people than regular social media. And it struck me that metaverses will soon allow us to find new connections and communicate without leaving the comfort of our homes! Sounds like a much better alternative, but can metaverses completely replace social media? Here’s what I think of that.
While social media enables online interaction, actvities there are limited to content consumption, sharing, liking and messaging. There’s a large gamut of local and international social networks, but their functionality boils down to the same things. The Web 2.0 concept is pretty limited, while Metaverses aim to break boundaries and offer more engaging, interactive and real-like experiences. They refine and redefine the possibilities of online communication, laying us the path for a massive transition to virtual worlds.
When it comes to metaverses, social interaction is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, metaverses offer much more engaging experience because they are jam-packed with advanced technologies:
- Blockchain
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens)
- Cryptocurrency or Tokens
- Internet of Things (IoT)
Such visual worlds as Bluelight.inc also provide gaming experience and crypto rewards. There are so many features, mechanics and tools that can be added to the equation!
The Metaverse is a very complex notion because it consists of several layers and technologies.
It combines two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) engaging experiences that we are now unable to have in a single place. They are enhanced by the spatial computing mix of augmented reality and virtual reality, and users may also utilize face filters and use digital wearables to customize their appearance online.
The Metaverse features systems for both incoming and outbound discovery. Outbound discovery involves delivering messages to individuals whether or not they have requested them, whereas inbound discovery refers to people looking for actual information. In other words, Metaverses not only allow people to communicate with each other — every user can interact with virtual worlds and explore oneself through online activities (learning, playing, creating).
Virtual worlds enable a creator economy without demanding too many skills from users. In earlier iterations of the internet, designing and creating platforms required programming ability. Web apps may, however, be crafted without any programming experience using Metaverse. Making a building in Minecraft, for example, is not rocket science, so imagine how many digital objects users will be able to create and monetize on!
Decentralized Metaverses have one more crucial characteristic that enables users to manage data and profits: all assets and transactions are recorded in a blockchain. This information is immutable and safe.
It’s difficult to say whether metaverses will completely replace social media, as they serve different purposes and offer different experiences. While social media platforms focus on connecting people and sharing content online, metaverses aim to create immersive, 3D virtual worlds where users can interact with each other and digital objects in real time.
However, it’s possible that metaverses could become a popular alternative to traditional social media platforms, as they offer a more engaging and interactive experience for users. Some people may prefer the ability to create and customize their own avatars, explore virtual environments, and interact with other users in a more immersive way.
At the same time, social media platforms are constantly evolving and adapting to new technologies and trends. It’s possible that they could incorporate some elements of metaverse technology into their platforms, or even create their own virtual worlds to compete with dedicated metaverse platforms.
Personally, I gravitate towards the opinion that metaverses and social media will exist side-by-side. Most likely, networks will also incorporate AR and VR experiences, as well as some blockchain technologies. While Web 2.0 platforms establish communication and messaging, Web 3.0 projects are intended to deliver engagement and more dynamic activities, such as gaming, concerts or virtual meetings.
The metaverse’s future is closely related to the future of social media in many ways. The metaverses, like online gaming, remote work, and e-commerce, is just the next generation of social media, according to one point of view. These many aspects of our digital life are already being brought together under one roof by platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Instead of having to merely browse through everything on a flat screen, we can interact with content and users. Whatever happens in the Metaverse, it will lead to amplification and intensification of both the positive and negative aspects of social media.
I can’t wait to see what the future of Metaverses holds for us. By the way, being a user is better than being a distant spectator — you can already emerge in the atmosphere of virtual cities and start living your digital life. Welcome to San Crypto — build a unicorn startup together with my dream team!
