Ljubisa Bojic’s provides a nuanced exploration of the metaverse, an evolving techno-social construct set to redefine the interaction dynamics between technology and society. By unpacking the multifaceted socio-technical implications of the metaverse, Bojic bridges the gap between theoretical speculations and the realities that this phenomenon might engender. Grounding the analysis in the philosophy of futures studies, the author scrutinizes the metaverse from various angles, unearthing potential impacts on societal structures, power dynamics, and the psychological landscape of users.
Bojic places the metaverse within the broader context of technologically mediated realities. His examination situates the metaverse not as a novel concept, but rather as an evolution of a continuum that stretches from the birth of the internet to the dawn of social media. In presenting this contextual framework, the research demystifies the metaverse, enabling a critical understanding of its roots and potential trajectory. In addition, Bojic foregrounds the significance of socio-technical imaginaries in shaping the metaverse, positioning them as instrumental in determining the pathways that this construct will traverse in the future. This research, thus, offers a comprehensive and sophisticated account of the metaverse, setting the stage for a rich philosophical discourse on this emerging phenomenon.
Socio-Technical Imaginaries, Power Dynamics, and Addictions
Bojic’s research explores the concept of socio-technical imaginaries as a core element of the metaverse. He proposes that these shared visions of social life and social order are instrumental in shaping the metaverse. Not simply a set of technologies, the metaverse emerges as a tapestry woven from various socio-technical threads. Through this examination, Bojic directs attention towards the collective imagination as a pivotal force in the evolution of the metaverse, shedding light on the often-underestimated role of socio-cultural factors in technological development.
Furthermore, Bojic’s analysis dissects the power dynamics inherent in the metaverse, focusing on the role of tech giants as arbiters of the digital frontier. By outlining potential scenarios where a few entities might hold the reins of the metaverse, he underscores the latent risks of monopolization. This concentration of power could potentially influence socio-technical imaginaries and subsequently shape the metaverse according to their particular interests, threatening to homogenize a construct intended to promote diversity. In this regard, Bojic’s research alerts to the imperative of balancing power structures in the metaverse to foster a pluralistic and inclusive digital realm.
A noteworthy aspect of Bojic’s research revolves around the concept of addiction within the metaverse. Through the lens of socio-technical imaginaries, Bojic posits the potential of the metaverse to amplify addictive behaviours. He asserts that the immersive, highly interactive nature of the metaverse, coupled with the potential for instant gratification and escape from real-world stressors, may serve as fertile ground for various forms of addiction. Moreover, he astutely observes that addiction in the metaverse is not limited to individual behaviours but can encompass collective ones. This perspective draws attention to how collective addictive behaviours, in turn, could shape socio-technical imaginaries, potentially leading to a feedback loop that further embeds addiction within the fabric of the metaverse. Consequently, Bojic’s research underscores the necessity for proactive measures to manage the potential for addiction within the metaverse, balancing the need for user engagement with safeguarding mental health.
Metaverse Regulation, Neo-slavery, and Philosophical Implications
Drawing on a unique juxtaposition, Bojic brings attention to the possible emergence of “neo-slavery” within the metaverse, an alarming consequence of inadequate regulation. He introduces this concept as a form of exploitation where users might find themselves tied to platforms, practices, or personas that limit their freedom and agency. The crux of this argument lies in the idea that the metaverse, despite its promises of infinite possibilities, could inadvertently result in new forms of enslavement if regulatory structures do not evolve adequately. This highlights a paradox within the metaverse; a space of limitless potential could still confine individuals within the confines of unseen power dynamics. Furthermore, Bojic suggests that neo-slavery could be fuelled by addictive tendencies and the amplification of power imbalances, drawing links between this concept and his earlier discussions on addiction. As such, the exploration of neo-slavery in the metaverse stands as a potent reminder of the intricate relationship between technology, power, and human agency.
Bojic’s research contributes significantly to the discourse on futures studies by engaging with the complexities of socio-technical imaginaries in the context of the metaverse. His conceptualization of neo-slavery and addictions presents an innovative lens through which to scrutinize the metaverse, tying together strands of power, exploitation, and human behaviour. However, the philosophical implications extend beyond this particular technology. In essence, his findings prompt a broader reflection on the relationship between humanity and rapidly evolving digital ecosystems. The manifestation of power dynamics within such ecosystems, and the potential for addiction and exploitation, reiterate long-standing philosophical debates concerning agency, free will, and autonomy in the context of technological advances. Bojic’s work thus goes beyond the metaverse and forces the reader to question the fundamental aspects of human-technology interaction. This holistic perspective solidifies his research as a critical contribution to the philosophy of futures studies.
Abstract
New technologies are emerging at a fast pace without being properly analyzed in terms of their social impact or adequately regulated by societies. One of the biggest potentially disruptive technologies for the future is the metaverse, or the new Internet, which is being developed by leading tech companies. The idea is to create a virtual reality universe that would allow people to meet, socialize, work, play, entertain, and create.
Methods coming from future studies are used to analyze expectations and narrative building around the metaverse. Additionally, it is examined how metaverse could shape the future relations of power and levels of media addiction in the society.
Hype and disappointment dynamics created after the video presentation of meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg have been found to affect the present, especially in terms of certainty and designability. This idea is supported by a variety of data, including search engine n-grams, trends in the diffusion of NFT technology, indications of investment interest, stock value statistics, and so on. It has been found that discourse in the mentioned presentation of the metaverse contains elements of optimism, epochalism, and inventibility, which corresponds to the concept of future essentialism.
On the other hand, power relations in society, inquired through the prism of classical theorists, indicate that current trends in the concentration of power among Big Tech could expand even more if the metaverse becomes mainstream. Technology deployed by the metaverse may create an attractive environment that would mimic direct reality and further stimulate media addiction in society.
It is proposed that future inquiries examine how virtual reality affects the psychology of individuals and groups, their creative capacity, and imagination. Also, virtual identity as a human right and recommender systems as a public good need to be considered in future theoretical and empirical endeavors.
Metaverse through the prism of power and addiction: what will happen when the virtual world becomes more attractive than reality?