Humans have always desired to connect with one another, from the days of sending letters to the current age of social media. As technology has advanced, so have the ways we communicate. We are now seeing a shift in the way tech giants are embracing new technologies to create immersive social experiences. Meta has been on a mission to tap into the potential of the metaverse, launching Horizon World in December 2021. Although this project has not been successful, the bigger picture is that the social AR and VR ecosystem is being explored by many, including Peer, an upcoming 3D social network. It is no surprise that more people and organizations are joining the AR, VR and metaverse. Social media platforms have been limited to comments, likes, and other reactions, but with virtual worlds, the possibilities of interaction are endless. According to Statista, over 90% of marketing experts from leading organizations in the US use social media to reach more customers. This has been effective, but the integration with virtual worlds is creating more opportunities. Social VR ecosystems like Decentraland and The Sandbox are not only providing a platform for innovators to design personalized social applications, but also access decentralized marketplaces. Mark Zuckerberg noted in Meta's 2021 founders letter that the metaverse has the potential to become a billion-dollar market in the next decade. He hopes that within the next decade, the metaverse will reach a billion people, host hundreds of billions of dollars of digital commerce, and support jobs for millions of creators and developers. On most social media platforms, users create an identity based on their name or a pseudonym, but there is no way to verify the authenticity of the identity. Blockchain-powered virtual worlds are designed to give users a unique on-chain identity, which can be easily verified. Virtual worlds are introducing more immersive experiences than those offered by traditional social media platforms. Social AR platforms like Peer are tapping into the talent pool of experienced 3D developers to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. The project recently acquired Zenlys team of elite engineers to build its AI-powered 3D maps. This allows users to access both the digital and physical worlds simultaneously. As the world moves towards digital ecosystems, the success of futuristic social media platforms will depend on user experience. People are no longer satisfied with simple functions like direct messages, emoji reactions, or likes. They want more engaging experiences, like being able to share real-life experiences with family or friends through personalized 3D maps. Virtual worlds are changing the way we interact with each other, from facilitating e-commerce to providing users with unique digital identities. This is more than just a trend, virtual worlds are here to stay and will continue to shape the future of social media. It is up to the stakeholders to capitalize on the potential of virtual worlds and transform the online experience for users.
This Cyber News was published on www.hackread.com. Publication date: Wed, 08 Feb 2023 23:49:02 +0000