Rather Suspect

To answer this question, I think we need to ask an even more basic one: was the internet a good idea?

Most of the time it seems the response to this is: of course! Look at how wonderful it is to have all that information at your fingertips!

But the problem to me is that phrase: all that information.

Having a system like Google Maps provide you directions is amazing. Being able to read up on any topic on Wikipedia is incredible. And watching a YouTube video of a plumber replacing a faucet is no doubt helpful to thousands.

But the trouble is, because the internet is about all that information, we also get trolls, and flame wars, and good old propaganda — every hour of every day.

So what does this have to do with the Metaverse? Simply that it raises a question: is the intent to continue to push all that information through that system as well? If so — what will stop it from being yet another propaganda machine?

My belief — and perhaps I have become a Luddite in saying this — is that we need to ask some more fundamental questions here about all of our communication technologies. They are powerful, yes — but whom are we serving when we create these technologies? And to what end? “Some information is good, so clearly more is better” simply doesn’t hold water.

How about instead of a Metaverse we create instead a MinimalVerse? A LessVerse? A SimpleVerse? Provide me an experience in which everything I touch feels rich and fulfilling and perhaps there is hope.