The metaverse re-entered the agenda in 2021, when Facebook — now called Meta — announced its plans to embrace the technology and, who knows, revolutionize the way we relate again.

And even though it’s a seemingly harmless concept, you need to know that there are risks to the metaverse for its users. Whether financial, privacy or even mental health risks, the metaverse needs to be treated with caution.

Therefore, if you want to know what the metaverse is, its trends, which companies are betting on technology and, above all, the risks it involves, be sure to check out the content we have prepared on the subject. Good reading!

What is the metaverse?

The metaverse is a concept of parallel reality, where the goal is to provide the greatest possible immersion for the user. Although not a new idea, since the first mentions appeared in the 1980s, the term gained strength again from the company Meta — ex-Facebook.

The last big buzz about the metaverse took place in the early 2000s, where Second Life promised a new reality for people and businesses to interact. Despite a lot of curiosity — and a few million dollars spent there — the concept didn’t catch on.

Now, again, we have the metaverse dominating the news and making companies move. This time, with the advancement of connectivity and mobile devices, in addition to technology as a whole, we will be able to see — finally — the expansion of the metaverse beyond a promising theory.

What are the main trends and companies investing in the metaverse?

The main trends indicate that the metaverse will be used strategically for events, games and some types of social interactions. With the expansion of remote work from 2020 onwards, it is possible to think of some moments of work that benefit from this concept.

This is the case of virtual meetings, presentations of new products and games. If workers can’t be present for teleworking, it might be a good idea for their VR avatars to “meet in person”. This gives more immersion to the meeting and provides more engagement among employees.

In the case of presentations, we have a similar idea. Imagine the launch of a new iPhone, where the limited space of the event prevents you from being there, watching from a box. With your avatar, this guest limit will possibly not exist, which will be a great chance to witness a historic moment.

In addition, we also have a great application of the metaverse in the gaming industry. Imagine being able to play your favorite title in a new perspective of the action, with you being the protagonist and venturing – surely – in the role of the hero of the game. It’s quite a stimulus, huh?

Marks within the metaverse

In the same way, if we have a lot of people gathering at a meeting, event or video games, we also have a great opportunity for companies to advertise their brands and expand their revenues with the popularization of technology.

Therefore, we already have an interesting movement of companies that invest in the metaverse, such as Nike, Itaú, Stella Artois, Vans, Gucci and Renner, for example. All of them, in some way, aim to profit from the popularization of virtual reality in a “parallel life”.

Now, whether this bet will bear fruit, in the form of profit and visibility, only time will tell.

What are the top 5 risks of the metaverse for people?

Despite being a seemingly harmless concept, there are risks to the metaverse that need to be known. Although there is a good adoption of big brands, it is necessary to pay attention to these 5 points:

1. Risks of financial fraud, since the movement of money will be intense in the first years of application of the metaverse. With this, it is necessary to take care of bank details, credit cards and also cryptocurrency wallets, in addition to other digital assets;

2. Privacy risks, where the user will need to take the utmost care possible so that their data, as with the current internet, does not fall into the hands of unwanted individuals and/or companies;

3. Identity risks, since some avatars, mainly of people with more visibility, can generate interest from people with bad intentions;

4. Behavioral and self-esteem risks, especially for people who intend to use the metaverse as an “escape from reality”, that is, the metaverse can be an illusory escape route for people who want to forget the problematic real world;

5. Risks of misinformation, since a mass environment will bring people spreading disinformation, as already happens in apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, to obtain some personal gain, cause confusion and/or manipulate as many people as possible.

Therefore, although the theory of this new virtual world promises a series of advantages, it is necessary to understand that the risks on the metaverse are real. Thus, it pays to be well prepared to embark on the technology without risking your financial and personal security.

So, for those interested in the proposal, it is worth following how this new onslaught of the metaverse will affect the virtual world and, especially, the real world. May it be promising and beneficial to us human beings.

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