With tech fans raving about Meta’s highly anticipated announcement of the Project Cambria VR headset in October, it looks like the company’s vision for the Metaverse is slowly getting closer. For some, however, it’s an exercise in futility until many more metaverse concerns are resolved.
Tech enthusiasts have taken to Reddit to voice some of their problems with the technology in its current form. From data and privacy questions that have plagued Meta since investing heavily in technology to practical issues, these are their top concerns.
Ever since Facebook announced it would be changing its branding to Meta in order to put it at the forefront of this technology, critics and consumers alike have expressed concerns that a company with a bad reputation for data and privacy could be responsible. for such a potentially compelling concept.
Redditor PointandStare made this point, calling it a “huge data and privacy nightmare”. This claim is not unfounded, as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen warned in an interview with AP that the company was once again attempting to use technology to collect data irresponsibly. Meta has repeatedly denied these claims, but many see no reason to trust the tech giant.
Most people don’t like to use VR for a long time
Developing and improving VR technology is essential for the Metaverse to become viable for mainstream consumers, and while the Oculus is steadily adding to the experience, some believe it will always be an issue.
Redditor a_pen_in_time notes that they “can’t see it starting in the future,” explaining that in their own experience, “motion sickness or disconnection from being in a place visually different from reality” means most people don’t get it. just don’t like using VR headsets for extended, uninterrupted periods of time. No matter how much cleaner or more comfortable helmets become, this fundamental problem may not be solved.
The technology isn’t there yet
While the Metaverse and VR have their fans, especially when it comes to modern VR games, arguably it’s still a niche. Redditor a_curious_koala attributes this to the “clunky” nature of technology in its current state, stating that the Metaverse “will only happen as technology evolves”.
While that also means the rise to the mainstream is inevitable once the technology emerges to meet it and make the experience cheaper and more convenient, that future may still be a long way off. This could be bad news for those hoping that the Metaverse will explode in popularity soon.
People are already exhausted by online communication
While the rise of Zoom and other remote collaboration and play tools during the pandemic has brought more attention to the idea of the metaverse, it also poses another potential problem. Redditor WVA1999 thinks the idea of ”walking around in a virtual world all day” doesn’t hold much appeal after the tensions of the pandemic and lockdowns.
There is supporting evidence, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that the time adults in the United States spend online has increased dramatically during the pandemic. This probably makes the metaverse more doable, as people already spend so much time online, but for some people, the last thing they want is another reason to spend more time in the online world.
The potential of the Metaverse may be very real, but that doesn’t mean that the current corporate interest in it necessarily stems from a genuine belief in the power of technology. Redditor Moggy-Man fears it is currently being widely used as a marketing ploy, especially by Meta.
They call Meta a “marketing distraction” to try to bring the company back to the forefront of consumers’ minds, saying they “don’t believe it has any real motivation beyond that.” Indeed, many have so far been unimpressed with Meta’s storefronts, which seem to be more focused on making their Metaverse marketable than actually exploring the technology’s potential.
People may not want to live in a virtual world
One of the promises of the Metaverse is that consumers enjoy living in a virtual reality world thanks to the limitless potential it offers compared to the real world. However, Redditor tehsheepdog thinks there’s a big problem with this that has yet to be solved by proponents of the technology.
They say the appeal of the game and the online world is that it offers “a temporary escape from reality” and that this appeal disappears when “the game or the world becomes reality”. By presenting the metaverse as a place where people socialize, work and live, it loses that all-important element of escapism and risks losing many consumers.
Its use will be more superficial than people say
The Metaverse promises to change things like the way everyone learns and works, and there are already incredibly immersive games and VR experiences out there. But Redditor EvidenceBase2000 thinks that when the Metaverse is really up and running, its use will be much more superficial.
They plan to put more emphasis on “image”, “social status” and be full of explicit content when it becomes more mainstream. While there may not be much evidence to suggest it yet, it’s true that the pristine, easy-to-use version of the Metaverse that’s now being marketed probably won’t be an accurate representation of what it’ll be like in reality.
One thing that many people have noticed about the Metaverse is that the concept of a virtual world in which the user is immersed for a long time is nothing new, at least not to anyone who has ever gotten into a game. Extremely addictive video. Redditor mas901 points out that there is an issue that people are overlooking here.
They associate the metaverse with their experience with World of Warcraft, going so far as to say “I played it many times until I literally passed out” and the game “became the goal of my life”. For people at risk of becoming obsessively addicted, the Metaverse could offer an even more immersive version of the same idea.
While it would be nice to imagine the Metaverse going mainstream, powered by those who are genuinely excited to bring exciting new technology to consumers, some think the way it’s being presented right now is a little too familiar. A Redditor explains the problem by saying, “If the state of social media is any indication, [the Metaverse] will be driven entirely by business interests. »
While Meta’s presentation of a more immersive virtual environment might appeal to investors, it is reminiscent of today’s social media that is clearly more interested in scrolling and viewing endless ads for the user than providing an engaging experience. For some consumers, this exaggerated business aspect is not very appealing.
While some continue to doubt that Mark Zuckerberg’s huge gamble to turn Facebook into Meta and invest everything in the future of technology will pay off, it’s impossible to say the company has failed to play a pretty big role. playing in the future of the Metaverse and that is worrying for some.
Redditor junktech thinks the biggest concern with the Metaverse is the Meta itself “and the guy who runs it.” Like many, they feel that “money and power” has always been the company’s main focus and that the metavers’ dominance “would only give them more control.” It remains to be seen if Meta’s gamble pays off, of course, but not everyone is eager to see the future of the Metaverse if Mark Zuckerberg is the one leading the way.