Metaverse Guide: What It Is, How to Access and Invest in This Virtual World
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 10:34 am
The metaverse is the virtual universe that many are betting on for the future of humanity. But how will this impact our lives? How can this new reality transform various spheres of society, including marketing? This is what we are going to analyze now.
Those who thought that a virtual universe was far away from today may now be in self employeed database for a surprise. Interactions with robots, machines that are smarter than humans, virtual realities and immersive digital experiences are all part of the metaverse, a future that has already arrived.
The concept of the metaverse has been around for a while, but it entered social media conversations, news stories and even family lunches after Mark Zuckerberg announced the name change of Facebook Inc. to Meta, betting on a future in which digital life will surpass the physical experience.
Although the topic is still abstract for many people, the metaverse is already there, and many companies are already investing in it. If you too want to participate in this new virtual universe and think about digital marketing strategies in this context, we will now explain everything about the metaverse and how to invest in it. Keep reading!
What is the metaverse?
The metaverse is a virtual universe that uses virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and internet connectivity technologies to create an immersive digital reality.
The concept is still highly debated and under construction, as are its practical applications. But it is possible to visualize the possibilities of the metaverse by thinking of the universe of digital games, which allow players to interact with virtual realities as if they were living in them.
However, the metaverse encompasses much more than just gaming entertainment. It is possible to think of all spheres of life in the metaverse, such as banking transactions, classes at school, company meetings, family gatherings, shopping at the mall, and much more.
There is no shortage of experts these days who share their views on the metaverse and say that everyone is wrong about the subject.
Gartner provides an interesting conceptualization of the metaverse as a collective virtual space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality, that is device-agnostic and does not belong to a single vendor.
Another interesting take on the metaverse that has gone viral on the Internet was provided by Shaan Puri in a Twitter thread . The entrepreneur wondered: what if the metaverse is not a place, as everyone thinks, but a time?
In his vision, the metaverse would be a time when our digital lives are worth more than our physical lives. This is not an overnight change, but a construction that takes decades and we are already living it.
Stop and take a look: we are already living this new reality, although not yet fully realized. According to a Squarespace survey , 60% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennials think that the way you present yourself online is more important than the way you present yourself in person. This already gives you an idea of the transformation we are experiencing.
Furthermore, driven by the Coronavirus pandemic, digital experiences have taken over our lives: in Zoom meetings, singers' lives and WhatsApp audios, for example.
However, experiences in the metaverse go far beyond the laptop or smartphone screen. New devices already allow people to interact with virtual realities as if they were living inside them, through their virtual avatars. Currently, smart glasses play this role, but technologies can still evolve a lot.
How did this concept come about?
In 2021, Mark Zuckerberg announced the rebranding of his company: Facebook Inc. would be renamed Meta, in reference to the metaverse, the future that Zuck wants to build.
This announcement put the term “metaverse” into everyone’s conversations, even turning it into a meme. After all, everyone wanted to know what that meant. But while it may seem like Facebook is creating the metaverse, this concept has been around for a long time.
The term is believed to have first been used in the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, in which people interact as programmable avatars in a three-dimensional virtual space. However, in this case, the metaverse is a violent dystopia – an idea we probably wouldn’t want to pursue…
Although the term did not catch on at the time, the idea inspired other books, movies, and games. Today, when people talk about the metaverse, many are referring to the game Second Life, created in 2003, which is said to be the first metaverse. On that platform, people could interact with their avatars in 3D virtual worlds, as if they had a "second life."
In recent years, gaming platforms – Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite – have pushed the concept of the metaverse even further, even before Facebook’s announcement. In addition, increasingly common virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices tend to introduce the metaverse into people’s everyday lives in no time.
metaverse
Source: FTW
Criticism of the metaverse: what future are we building?
Like any new development, the metaverse was not well received by many people. Mark Zuckerberg's announcement, but also the concept of the metaverse itself, has already received some criticism from journalists, influencers and technology experts.
For many, Facebook's rebranding to Meta has a clear motive: to shift the focus away from the accusations Mark Zuckerberg has faced in recent years. Problems with data privacy, interference in electoral processes, negligence with fake news and mental illness are all on the back of the Facebook creator.
So what better way to get people to look away from such a sensitive topic than by creating a new event? Better to talk about a future that incites and delights people, right? In this article from The Atlantic, journalist Brian Merchant talks about it.
In fact, many of these problems will not be forgotten in the metaverse; worse still, they may become more acute. Have you ever wondered how much data about users the metaverse can generate? And how many mental disorders virtual realities can create? In other words, user safety and mental health will continue to be sensitive issues.
But the criticism does not stop there. The metaverse that the enthusiasts of the idea imagine is perhaps a distant, if not impossible, scenario in the coming years.
This is because the current software and hardware infrastructure is not yet capable of supporting this virtual universe. Thus, the metaverse is prevented from reaching scale, as Lauren Jackson states in an article for the NYT.
The necessary infrastructure, by the way, is also a threat to the environment, as the World Economic Forum demonstrates . The amount of energy and equipment the metaverse requires, plus the electronic waste it can generate, may not be ideal on a planet in need of sustainable solutions.
If we take into account that almost 50% of the Latin American population has fixed broadband , according to data from the World Bank, it is also clear that the problem is not only one of infrastructure, but a social issue, since low-income families and rural areas are the ones that use the service the least. And if you are considering buying a VR or AR device, the metaverse becomes even more unviable...
So how can we say the future will be in a new universe if a large portion of the population won't be there?
Ian Black, in an article (in Portuguese) for Meio & Mensagem , reinforces the debate on the social issues surrounding the metaverse. For the director of New Vegas, the metaverse is being created under the same colonial logic - now applied to the digital world - that is the basis of so much inequality and violence in the real world.
Although the concept brings the idea of a decentralized system, what we see is large corporations from the richest countries in the world taking the lead in the project. Is that what we want for the future again?
So it's not a simple matter. The hype of the metaverse may pique our curiosity, but there are still a lot of things to work out before it enters people's lives.
How do you access the metaverse?
The metaverse can be understood as a place where we access to live our digital life. Currently, you can do so through your computer or mobile phone, or for a more immersive experience, through a virtual or augmented reality device.
We're talking about devices like Google's Oculus (pictured below) and Ray-Ban Stories . Of course, these devices are still unaffordable for many people. But increased production by different companies as the metaverse evolves could bring costs down.
In addition, you need to use a platform that offers access to virtual reality, such as Roblox, Decentraland, Axie Infinity, The Sandbox or even Second Life, which still has users, especially in the United States.
It is important to know that these platforms are not the metaverse itself. They offer access to virtual experiences, which have a beginning and an end and allow limited action by the user. The concept of the metaverse, on the other hand, although still abstract, implies a life in virtual reality, not just one-off activities.
How to invest in the metaverse?
As the metaverse has become a hot topic, investors’ eyes have turned there. Cryptocurrencies and NFTs already move billions of dollars worldwide, and are considered essential assets for the metaverse experience.
Additionally, as we will see shortly, there are also virtual lands and houses for sale, for those who want to guarantee their space in the metaverse or sell for higher values in the future.
So, if you also want to take advantage of the metaverse boom and make money from it, you need to start making a plan. These digital assets we have mentioned, cryptocurrencies, NFTs and digital lands, are good examples of what could make money in the coming years when the metaverse becomes popular.
However, this type of investment is still considered risky. If you want to make money on digital assets, do your research beforehand to avoid falling into traps and use only reliable platforms. The more eyes are directed to the metaverse, the more chances there are of attracting scammers.
Those who thought that a virtual universe was far away from today may now be in self employeed database for a surprise. Interactions with robots, machines that are smarter than humans, virtual realities and immersive digital experiences are all part of the metaverse, a future that has already arrived.
The concept of the metaverse has been around for a while, but it entered social media conversations, news stories and even family lunches after Mark Zuckerberg announced the name change of Facebook Inc. to Meta, betting on a future in which digital life will surpass the physical experience.
Although the topic is still abstract for many people, the metaverse is already there, and many companies are already investing in it. If you too want to participate in this new virtual universe and think about digital marketing strategies in this context, we will now explain everything about the metaverse and how to invest in it. Keep reading!
What is the metaverse?
The metaverse is a virtual universe that uses virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and internet connectivity technologies to create an immersive digital reality.
The concept is still highly debated and under construction, as are its practical applications. But it is possible to visualize the possibilities of the metaverse by thinking of the universe of digital games, which allow players to interact with virtual realities as if they were living in them.
However, the metaverse encompasses much more than just gaming entertainment. It is possible to think of all spheres of life in the metaverse, such as banking transactions, classes at school, company meetings, family gatherings, shopping at the mall, and much more.
There is no shortage of experts these days who share their views on the metaverse and say that everyone is wrong about the subject.
Gartner provides an interesting conceptualization of the metaverse as a collective virtual space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality, that is device-agnostic and does not belong to a single vendor.
Another interesting take on the metaverse that has gone viral on the Internet was provided by Shaan Puri in a Twitter thread . The entrepreneur wondered: what if the metaverse is not a place, as everyone thinks, but a time?
In his vision, the metaverse would be a time when our digital lives are worth more than our physical lives. This is not an overnight change, but a construction that takes decades and we are already living it.
Stop and take a look: we are already living this new reality, although not yet fully realized. According to a Squarespace survey , 60% of Gen Z and 62% of Millennials think that the way you present yourself online is more important than the way you present yourself in person. This already gives you an idea of the transformation we are experiencing.
Furthermore, driven by the Coronavirus pandemic, digital experiences have taken over our lives: in Zoom meetings, singers' lives and WhatsApp audios, for example.
However, experiences in the metaverse go far beyond the laptop or smartphone screen. New devices already allow people to interact with virtual realities as if they were living inside them, through their virtual avatars. Currently, smart glasses play this role, but technologies can still evolve a lot.
How did this concept come about?
In 2021, Mark Zuckerberg announced the rebranding of his company: Facebook Inc. would be renamed Meta, in reference to the metaverse, the future that Zuck wants to build.
This announcement put the term “metaverse” into everyone’s conversations, even turning it into a meme. After all, everyone wanted to know what that meant. But while it may seem like Facebook is creating the metaverse, this concept has been around for a long time.
The term is believed to have first been used in the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, in which people interact as programmable avatars in a three-dimensional virtual space. However, in this case, the metaverse is a violent dystopia – an idea we probably wouldn’t want to pursue…
Although the term did not catch on at the time, the idea inspired other books, movies, and games. Today, when people talk about the metaverse, many are referring to the game Second Life, created in 2003, which is said to be the first metaverse. On that platform, people could interact with their avatars in 3D virtual worlds, as if they had a "second life."
In recent years, gaming platforms – Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite – have pushed the concept of the metaverse even further, even before Facebook’s announcement. In addition, increasingly common virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices tend to introduce the metaverse into people’s everyday lives in no time.
metaverse
Source: FTW
Criticism of the metaverse: what future are we building?
Like any new development, the metaverse was not well received by many people. Mark Zuckerberg's announcement, but also the concept of the metaverse itself, has already received some criticism from journalists, influencers and technology experts.
For many, Facebook's rebranding to Meta has a clear motive: to shift the focus away from the accusations Mark Zuckerberg has faced in recent years. Problems with data privacy, interference in electoral processes, negligence with fake news and mental illness are all on the back of the Facebook creator.
So what better way to get people to look away from such a sensitive topic than by creating a new event? Better to talk about a future that incites and delights people, right? In this article from The Atlantic, journalist Brian Merchant talks about it.
In fact, many of these problems will not be forgotten in the metaverse; worse still, they may become more acute. Have you ever wondered how much data about users the metaverse can generate? And how many mental disorders virtual realities can create? In other words, user safety and mental health will continue to be sensitive issues.
But the criticism does not stop there. The metaverse that the enthusiasts of the idea imagine is perhaps a distant, if not impossible, scenario in the coming years.
This is because the current software and hardware infrastructure is not yet capable of supporting this virtual universe. Thus, the metaverse is prevented from reaching scale, as Lauren Jackson states in an article for the NYT.
The necessary infrastructure, by the way, is also a threat to the environment, as the World Economic Forum demonstrates . The amount of energy and equipment the metaverse requires, plus the electronic waste it can generate, may not be ideal on a planet in need of sustainable solutions.
If we take into account that almost 50% of the Latin American population has fixed broadband , according to data from the World Bank, it is also clear that the problem is not only one of infrastructure, but a social issue, since low-income families and rural areas are the ones that use the service the least. And if you are considering buying a VR or AR device, the metaverse becomes even more unviable...
So how can we say the future will be in a new universe if a large portion of the population won't be there?
Ian Black, in an article (in Portuguese) for Meio & Mensagem , reinforces the debate on the social issues surrounding the metaverse. For the director of New Vegas, the metaverse is being created under the same colonial logic - now applied to the digital world - that is the basis of so much inequality and violence in the real world.
Although the concept brings the idea of a decentralized system, what we see is large corporations from the richest countries in the world taking the lead in the project. Is that what we want for the future again?
So it's not a simple matter. The hype of the metaverse may pique our curiosity, but there are still a lot of things to work out before it enters people's lives.
How do you access the metaverse?
The metaverse can be understood as a place where we access to live our digital life. Currently, you can do so through your computer or mobile phone, or for a more immersive experience, through a virtual or augmented reality device.
We're talking about devices like Google's Oculus (pictured below) and Ray-Ban Stories . Of course, these devices are still unaffordable for many people. But increased production by different companies as the metaverse evolves could bring costs down.
In addition, you need to use a platform that offers access to virtual reality, such as Roblox, Decentraland, Axie Infinity, The Sandbox or even Second Life, which still has users, especially in the United States.
It is important to know that these platforms are not the metaverse itself. They offer access to virtual experiences, which have a beginning and an end and allow limited action by the user. The concept of the metaverse, on the other hand, although still abstract, implies a life in virtual reality, not just one-off activities.
How to invest in the metaverse?
As the metaverse has become a hot topic, investors’ eyes have turned there. Cryptocurrencies and NFTs already move billions of dollars worldwide, and are considered essential assets for the metaverse experience.
Additionally, as we will see shortly, there are also virtual lands and houses for sale, for those who want to guarantee their space in the metaverse or sell for higher values in the future.
So, if you also want to take advantage of the metaverse boom and make money from it, you need to start making a plan. These digital assets we have mentioned, cryptocurrencies, NFTs and digital lands, are good examples of what could make money in the coming years when the metaverse becomes popular.
However, this type of investment is still considered risky. If you want to make money on digital assets, do your research beforehand to avoid falling into traps and use only reliable platforms. The more eyes are directed to the metaverse, the more chances there are of attracting scammers.