What on earth is ‘the metaverse’? Dictionary.com defines it as “a shared, realistic & immersive computer simulation of the real world, or other possible worlds, where people participate as avatars,” (digital humans). Many heard the term in Oct. 2021 when CEO Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook, “Meta,” calling it the “next chapter for the internet.” Essentially, the metaverse will be a digital twin of this world. The idea sounds futuristic, but the World Wide Web & Internet once seemed radical too. We’re already seeing generations who prefer online interactions. The pandemic accelerated the shift, helping us develop an armchair ease of all things virtual. While on lockdown, we attended most events via computer; from Zoom meetings & school, to virtual happy hours & other social “outings.” Advertisers even want in on the metaverse, as it’ll allow consumers to experience products in an alternate sphere. For instance, a car manufacturer in the metaverse isn’t going to advertise in the same way they do now. In the metaverse you’ll actually be able to drive the cars around & feel the experience of it. Marketing researchers must study what digital customers respond to best, since shopping & behavioral patterns in the metaverse may be totally different from this world. Though it’ll take years, if not decades, for the metaverse to become widely accessible, there’s no time like the present to grab your virtual goggles & start dipping your toe into the simulated pool of the metaverse.
