Meta’s Metaverse Mashup: Early Adopters Are Not Buying It
Facebook—now Meta Platforms—just rebranded itself and announced plans to build a giant digital playground. But the folks who’ve been hopping around these virtual worlds for years aren’t exactly thrilled. They feel like Facebook is trying to put a shiny new label on something they’ve been building already.
What’s the Metaverse, Anyway?
The word “metaverse” has turned into the tech equivalent of “fireworks” this year. Companies and investors are scrambling to tap into the next big thing while people are already living and playing there.
Meet the Skeptics
- Ryan Kappel – an American organizer of online meet‑ups for over two years says, “They’re basically rebranding the stuff we’ve been creating for ages.”
- Pranksy – a UK crypto investor who snagged virtual real‑estate in early 2020, believes Facebook is moving fast to lock in the trademark as more brands get wooed by the buzz.
- Artur Sychov – founder of Somnium Space, feels Mark Zuckerberg’s rebrand is “rushed,” as if the company is trying to drop a band‑wagon in the middle of the conversation.
- Dave Carr – communications lead at Decentraland warns, “Users who want freedom and ownership will gravitate to decentralized worlds, not a centralized Facebook attempt.”
Decentralized vs. Centralized
Decentraland, for instance, prides itself on letting users keep control over their content and move freely between worlds. It stands in stark contrast to a corporate‑run platform that could possibly dictate what you see and sell your data for profit.
Blockchain: The Shield That Keeps Control Out of Central Palm
Many of these virtual worlds run on blockchain, making it almost impossible for a single company to hold the reins. Thanks to this tech, users can barter for land, art, and collectibles with crypto, all recorded on a distributed ledger.
Is the Pro‑And‑Con Tossing a Fair Trade?
Not all early adopters are completely negative. A few believe a giant like Facebook entering the scene could spike interest and bring new players and capital. Tristan Littlefield, co‑founder of NFT firm nft42, notes that while he dislikes Facebook’s data‑selling habits, a “billions‑of‑dollars influx” could be the ticket to broader exploration and evolving multiple virtual worlds.
Bottom Line
Meta’s bold move might bring a flood of new users—perhaps a good thing—but those who have spent years walking the blockchains of old metaverses warn that the brand’s history and intent could tilt the balance. Whether Facebook’s shiny new name will win over the early adopters or not remains to be seen.
