This piece shall explain:

•The essence of metaverses

•2 societal phenomena that make metaverses necessary

•3 foundational principles for an effective metaverse

•4 Innovative projects and efforts spearheading the adoption and evolution of metaverses

Let’s dive in!

METAVERSE -

If you didn’t watch “Ready Player One”, you likely don’t have a sense of what the metaverse is. There are many definitions of the metaverse out there, but they are either too vague or too limiting. ADL defines the metaverse as “...the future version of the Internet, blending the frontiers between reality and virtuality, at the convergence of immersive spaces, collaboration platforms, social experiences, and leveraging the creator economy” My personal take expands on it:

The future version of the internet: The metaverse represents the evolution of the internet, a dynamic digital universe that we can exist within, rather than merely interact with. Instead of information being presented in a static, two-dimensional format as we have on current web pages, the metaverse offers a fully immersive, 3D experience – answering what the metaverse is

Blending the frontier between physical and virtual: Reality will increasingly become intertwined with virtuality and exist as a spectrum. Be it bringing the virtual world and digital objects into the physical world (augmented reality), or “transporting” humans from the physical world into the virtual one (virtual reality), or anything in between – answering where the metaverse will take place

At the convergence of immersive spaces, collaboration platforms, social experiences: Metaverses aren’t “just games”, it spans beyond. It enables users to cooperate and interact synchronously and async  for work, foster social interaction and connection among users, or anything really in a more immersive and efficient manner – answering what people can do

Leveraging the creator economy: The metaverse will continue to capitalize on the trend of creators, artists, influences and others generating content, experiences, or digital assets, Just like the past two decades, it is an opportunity for individuals and co-creators to contribute to the platforms and in return earn from their creations or services – answering who contributes to the metaverse

Spectrum of Metaverse: bringing virtual into physical world (AR), transporting user into fully immersive virtual environment (VR), mix of both (MR) There are definitely more factors we can add and dive into, but I shall leave it to the “Ideal Metaverse” segment in the later part of this article. My conviction that metaverses are the future does not solely lie in their revolutionary capabilities, their potential to redefine industries or the enormous economic value they promise to generate. Instead, it’s that they address the core needs of the upcoming powerhouse demographic – Generation Z. This tech-savvy, connected generation and the ones after them will soon become the largest population and consumer base.

The Perfect Storm is Brewing Gen Zs, known colloquially as “Zoomers”, describes those born between 1997 and 2012.

They hold the unique distinction of being the first generation to grow up in a digital world, their lives intrinsically intertwined with computers and digital devices.

Inevitably, their online engagement outpaces all previous generations, reflecting their innate digital fluency. Two key characteristics inherent to these digital natives underscore the essential role metaverses will play in their lives. Gen Z’s need for connectivity and dopamine Technological advancements have led to countless benefits, but it has also nurtured a profound sense of isolation among that younger population – 79% of Gen Zs reported feelings of loneliness and are branded as the “loneliest generation ever”.

Ironically, one of the most prominent causes of this predicament lies in the very tool they utilize to seek connection – social media. Gen Zs, who are the heaviest users of these platforms, face a paradox; their pursuit of connection leads them to invest more time on social media, yet it is this very act that breeds further isolation

What may seem like an ephemeral sense of connectivity while scrolling through social feeds evaporates the moment they exit the platform, only to be replaced by a renewed wave of loneliness.

This forms a “loneliness flywheel” – a relentless cycle which escalates as the average global time spent on social media continues to climb, with Gen Zs dedicating 50% more time than Millennials. Should users regulate their social media usage? Probably. Will they? Highly unlikely, and this can be traced back to the brain's biochemical response to perceived social interaction Every time users enter their social media applications in their quest for connectivity, their brain receives surges of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that helps in driving our brain's reward system.

When users engage with social media - whether it’s receiving a like on a photo, or seeing positive comments on a post - the brain interprets these as social rewards. These rewards lead to the release of dopamine, which reinforces the behavior that led to the reward, creating a feedback loop that encourages us to repeat the action. In this case, the sense of social connectivity has been “druggified” by social media platforms.

To make matters worse, these platforms have become more proficient at supplying the “social connectivity drug” to users.

Over the years, social media platforms have evolved to more immersive content and incorporated shorter dopamine loops to keep users hooked.

They’ve transformed from primarily text-based (Twitter, Facebook), to image-based (Instagram), to video-based (YouTube), and now short-form videos (TikTok) each shift designed to trigger faster and more potent dopamine responses which explain why social media usage is ever-increasing.

The metaverse's inherent immersiveness and interactivity offer a profound upgrade over traditional social media, providing users with a richer, more engaging social experience. Unlike traditional platforms where interactivity is typically one-dimensional - likes, shares, comments - the metaverse brings 3D virtual environments where users can embody digital avatars, manipulate virtual objects, and engage in real-time, multi-sensory interactions This heightened level of user involvement goes beyond what we've seen on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Live, where interaction, though possible, is largely linear and limited. Users in the metaverse are no longer passive consumers, but active participants.

For instance, they could virtually attend a live concert, actively engaging with the performance by dancing, cheering, or interacting with the performer and other attendees.

They could also participate in shared virtual experiences, like collaborative world-building, that encourage a deeper level of interaction and connection

Players gathering for Ariana Grande’s concert in Fortnite Moreover, spatial interfaces in metaverse platforms offer a sense of physicality and presence that's absent in traditional social media.

This allows users to establish and navigate social connections in a manner that mirrors real-world interactions, fostering a sense of social connection and belonging that is more profound than the often superficial relationships established on traditional social media Consequently, the metaverse not only meets the digitally-native Gen Z's demand for stimulating and novel experiences but also facilitates deeper, more meaningful connections.

In doing so, it holds the potential to fundamentally redefine the framework of digital social interaction, transforming passive consumers into active participants and explorers in their digital experiences. Gen Z’s need for self-expression The tide of generational values has turned, with 73% of Gen Zs placing a premium on self-expression as a vital component of a fulfilling life, starkly contrasting the societal pressure to conform felt by their predecessors.

The concept of self-expression has not only grown in importance but has also undergone a significant evolution Before the digital era, people’s identities were formed and expressed by what they were like and owned in the physical world – their given names, the houses they stayed in, the items they owned, and their physical appearances.

The advent of the internet and social media has dramatically expanded this landscape, offering new avenues for expressing one's identity like self-chosen usernames, carefully curated text and visual

social media feed, digital assets, and in-game avatars – These elements collectively contribute to the formation of a digital identity. Gen Zs, as digital natives spending 60% of their daily waking hours on the internet, have embraced digital identity as an integral extension of themselves.

It offers a canvas for them to mirror their individual personalities: 3 in 5 feel that having an online presence makes them feel more comfortable in their own skins60% believe that how they present themselves online is more important than how they present themselves “in real life”45% of gamers who use in-game cosmetics to customize their in-game appearances are Gen Zs As the future generation spends more time in the digital sphere and importance of identities as a whole becomes increasingly essential, Gen Zs will naturally demand the ability to express themselves through more immersive digital mediums.

Ready Player Me’s Avatars for the metaverse Metaverses offer a new frontier for digital identity and self-expression. 

These virtual environments unlock the ability for users to form digital identities without the same constraints in the physical world and traditional social media platforms. Users can curate avatars that reflect their personality, imagination, or aspirational selves, unrestricted by real-world norms or physical limitations.

Beyond physical appearance, individuals can design personal spaces, participate in social activities, and interact with the environment and community, all of which offer deeper layers to their digital identity.

This limitless scope for customization and interaction, blending reality and fantasy, makes the metaverse a compelling platform for Generation Z, who highly value individuality and self-expression.

This evolving digital realm promises an even more immersive and diverse spectrum for identity expression in the future The prominence of metaverses is not some distant pipe dream.

In fact, it’s already here and is filled with Gen Zs

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