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Into the Metaverse

Technical Challenges, Social Problems, Utopian Visions, and Policy Principles

Bibliographic Data

ID21684271
AuthorsVincent Mosco (0000-0002-7799-6307, Queen's University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume30
Issue2
Pages161-173
Publication date2023-04-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJavnost - The Public (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1318-3222 • E-ISSN: 1854-8377
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13183222.2023.2200688
OpenAlexW4366683081
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited4

The metaverse holds a prominent place in debates over the future direction of digital networks. Proponents claim that advances in virtual and augmented reality will shape every facet of social life. This article defines the metaverse, explores the state of the technology, and addresses its public policy significance. It makes use of a political economic perspective focusing on the concepts of commodification and spatialisation. Specifically, it considers how major platform and gaming companies plan to use the metaverse to expand market share. The article also addresses the cultural dimensions of the metaverse as the latest in a series of utopian visions of a digital sublime. It proceeds to take up the social problems associated with the metaverse and concludes by describing the essential policy principles that should guide public authorities in the regulating the metaverse. These principles include acknowledging that current concerns over implementation do not limit future deployment. Moreover, public policy should start by recognising that the metaverse is a public space and not the private property of the major platforms. Finally, policy must address specific social problems deepened by the arrival of the metaverse including crime, privacy, the impact on climate, and data ownership

Environmental ethics · Environmentalism · Human–computer interaction · Metaverse · Political science · Politics · Public policy · Public relations · Sociology · Virtual reality · Vision · Blockchain Technology Applications and Security · Computer Science · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Law · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts

  • Investigating the mediating role of ethical issues and healthcare between the metaverse and mental health in Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia

    Open Access•Yineng Xiao, Sayed Fayaz Ahmad et al.•Humanities and Social Sciences…•2024

  • The Chinese metaverse

    Open Access•Joanne Gray, Wenjia Tang•Policy & Internet•2025

  • Exploring the influence of the learning Metaverse on student satisfaction

    Tsung-Sheng Chang, Wei-Hung Hsiao•Interactive Learning Environments•2025

  • The real ethical problem with metaverses

    Open Access•Nick Munn, Dan Weijers•Frontiers in Human Dynamics•2023

  • Virtual Worlds, Real Politics

    Open Access•Chang Zhang, L Z Wang•Politics and Governance•2025

  • Deepfake content in political communication

    Open Access•Lucian Vasile Szabo, Simona Bader•Convergence The International…•2026

  • I VR therefore I am

    Ignas Kalpokas, Julija Kalpokiene•Information Communication & Society•2025

  • Metaverse datafication

    Chris Hesselbein, Paolo Bory et al.•Information Communication & Society•2025

  • Immersive collaborative business process and extended reality-driven industrial metaverse technologies for economic value co-creation in 3D digital twin factories

    Open Access•Sheshadri Chatterjee, Tomas Kliestik et al.•Oeconomia Copernicana•2025

  • Why aren’t we building parks in the metaverse

    Nathan Williams•Leisure Studies•2025

  • The Digital Sublime

    Vincent Mosco•The Digital Sublime•2004

  • The Political Economy of Communication

    Vincent Mosco•The Political Economy of…•2009

Unique citing works10
Citations per year3,33
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 10
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