Revolution in the world of social networks: Facebook becomes Meta and turns to the metaverse

Facebook, once the leading social networking platform, has changed its name to Meta, marking a new era of its business focused on the development of a virtual world known as the metaverse. This change represents the largest strategic shift for the company since Mark Zuckerberg launched the platform in 2004. The name change signals the company’s focus on innovations in virtual reality, which Zuckerberg sees as a key phase in the evolution of digital socializing and connectivity. More than just a social network, Meta plans to create a comprehensive virtual ecosystem that encompasses various aspects of life - from work and education to entertainment and communication.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of the now-renamed company Meta, described the metaverse as the next great stage of internet evolution. Through the integration of new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, Meta aims to redefine how people use the internet and experience digital media. The goal of this innovation is to create a “digital universe” where people can communicate, work, play games, and even buy or create artwork.

Metaverse: The new digital universe

The metaverse is a term that is increasingly used to describe a collective virtual space created through the convergence of physical and virtual reality. Zuckerberg has clearly laid out a vision that Meta will play a leading role in this transition. The company plans to invest massive resources into the development of hardware and software to enable users to immerse themselves in a completely new reality. This project has already been initiated with various Meta products such as Oculus VR glasses and the Horizon Worlds platform, which allows users to meet in a virtual environment. Meta is determined to make the metaverse accessible and affordable to all users, not just the technological elite.

Critics of the metaverse have already begun to emerge, given concerns about privacy, data security, and potential addiction. Critics warn that the transition to the metaverse could further exacerbate existing problems such as misinformation and user manipulation. However, Meta seeks to calm these concerns by promising transparency and cooperation with regulators to ensure a safe environment for all its users.

Transformation of jobs and education

One of the most important aspects of the metaverse is its potential application in the world of work and education. During the announcement, Zuckerberg noted that the metaverse will be a key platform for collaboration and education. Virtual conferences, meetings, and even virtual student programs are becoming a reality thanks to comprehensive metaverse platforms that allow users to feel as though they are in the same space regardless of actual physical distance. In this context, Meta is collaborating with numerous educational institutions and companies to develop tools that will enable a more interactive and engaging form of education.

Employees around the world are already seeing changes in their work environments with the arrival of new collaboration platforms such as Horizon Workrooms. These applications allow users to participate in meetings in the form of their virtual avatars, contributing to a sense of presence and collaboration. Thanks to these innovations, Zuckerberg believes that the physical boundaries of work environments will increasingly become irrelevant.

Impact on entertainment and social life

The metaverse also has great potential to transform the entertainment sector. Virtual concerts, theater performances, and even sporting events could be experienced through the metaverse, offering users an impressive experience that is not possible through traditional media. Meta intends to create a digital space where people can engage in things that interest them without physical limitations, creating communities based on shared interests. Zuckerberg is convinced that this will contribute to a richer social life for millions of users.

One example of such activities is Horizon Venues, where users have already had the opportunity to attend various events. From live concerts of famous performers to virtual sports events, Horizon Venues enables users to share experiences together despite physical distance. This is particularly significant in the context of global events such as pandemics, where physical gatherings are not always possible.

Future: Community and economic potential of the metaverse

The metaverse has the potential to create an entirely new economy. According to Zuckerberg, the metaverse will provide opportunities for new forms of trade and value creation, either through the sale of virtual products or through services within the digital universe. For example, users will be able to purchase virtual real estate, clothing for their avatars, and even participate in trade activities that will have real economic value. Companies like Nike have already begun exploring the possibilities of creating and selling virtual products within the metaverse, opening a completely new chapter in the world of commerce.

Meta plans to collaborate with other tech giants to create an open ecosystem of the metaverse. The openness of this platform will allow various companies and development teams to create their own applications and tools within the metaverse, which will further accelerate innovation and increase value for end users. Zuckerberg sees this approach as a key element in ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of the metaverse as a concept.

However, the future of the metaverse is not without challenges. Ensuring user privacy, preventing malicious activities, and regulating the newly emerging virtual economy are some of the key issues that Meta and other stakeholders will have to face. Zuckerberg emphasized that transparency and accountability are the foundations on which they want to build the metaverse, and that collaboration with regulators and user communities is crucial to achieving these goals.