Is the re-branding of Facebook Zuckerberg’s open arms invitation to a digitally integrated life?

Does the shift from Facebook to Meta lay a firm foundation for more businesses to join the digital side? After a year locked in our homes, we have all learnt how valuable the presence of social media and digital communication platforms are, specifically in our working lives. However, we also got to experience technologies downfalls and, for the most part, came to understand that we cannot live life through screens.

Or so we thought:

Zuckerberg’s proposal of virtual reality for the future claims to change this, promising a sense of human contact even when apart. The idea is: each user will be able to create, customise and personalise their own avatar and accessories, using this avatar to attend virtual meetings or attend leisure activities, such as going to concerts with peers. Facebook believe that their ‘Metaverse’ will be the successor of the mobile internet and be able to keep people constantly, seamlessly, and naturally connected.

This could be greatly beneficial to a businesses’ structure, allowing a smoother transition into the digital world – in comparison to the clunky zoom calls that had to previously occur. With a promise to keep the service low cost or free, Zuckerberg seems to be welcoming businesses into this unknown technology territory as, with the shift to an infinity symbol logo, there is the insinuation that a digitally integrated life is our inevitable future. It would allow businesses to not only connect internally, build better staff to staff relationships, improve business morale, and flatten the hierarchy, but also connect with consumers, being able to openly discuss faults, trial new product ideas and improve company transparency.

However, this consistent stream of contact and social activity may also be negative for businesses. As for how do individuals differentiate their work avatar from their personal avatar? Not to mention the negative effect on mental health a 24/7 open office would cause.

So, what do you think of the ‘Metaverse’? What aspects of it would benefit you as a company?

Freya Fowler