Pros and Cons of Facebook's New Metaverse for College Students

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he's changing his company “Facebook” name to Meta Platforms Inc., or Meta for short. In turn with this new change Facebook will implement a mix of virtual reality and other technologies. This brings on an array of concerns with the already controversial company regarding it’s access to even more personal data of its users. Will this have any particular effect to college students?

illustration showing a variety of people using social media on their mobile devices

What exactly is the “Metaverse?”

This new vision for the internet will use virtual and augmented reality to integrate real and digital worlds. With Facebook changing its name to Meta, and other big tech companies like Microsoft coming on board, there is much discussion about the potential of the metaverse to enhance the way we socialize, work and learn.

“The metaverse is the next evolution of social connection. Our company’s vision is to help bring the metaverse to life, so we are changing our name to reflect our commitment to this future.” - Facebook

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How does this effect college students?

The social media giant in the past has been accused of failing to stop the dangerous misinformation and exposing of their user’s personal data. This is to say that students must be alert when connecting their user data, and watch what they post online. This new age of technology will bring the internet to life, bringing 3D to this new virtual environment. For the first time, you will be able to go inside instead of just looking at the screen. In these new interconnected virtual communities people can meet, work and play, using virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps or other devices.

This combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual reality, augmented reality and video where users "live" within a digital universe will change history.

young man on computer using VR program and wearing a VR headset

What will I be able to do in the Metaverse?

Things like going to a virtual concert, taking a trip online, view or create artwork and try on or buy digital clothing. Facebook has even launched meeting software for companies, called Horizon Workrooms, to use with its Oculus VR headsets. The headsets cost $300 or more, putting the metaverse's authentic experience out of reach for many. For those who can afford it, users would be able-through their avatars, to visit virtual worlds created by different companies.

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What will these advances include?

The famous Bill Gates has even stated himself that he predicts that in the next three years all meetings will be moved to the metaverse. With the impacts of COVID turning the majority of educational and career meetings virtual, this prediction does not seem so far out of reach. That is to say, these newest advancements in technology have once again made history. So students, with the world changing everyday the metaverse is here to stay.

young man and woman facing away from each other using VR headsets

3D spaces in the metaverse will let you socialize, learn, collaborate and play in ways that go beyond what we can imagine. Developing these exciting new technologies will help people connect and explore in the future of the metaverse. The metaverse will be a collective project that goes beyond a single company. It will be created by people all over the world, and open to everyone.

Wish us luck in this new age of Virtual Reality!

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