Real Participation in Virtual Environments: Navigating Public Participation in the Metaverse
Jonas Fegert · Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG eBooks · 2025
The Evolution of the Metaverse: Opportunities Beyond the Hype?In 2021, Meta Platforms unveiled its ambitious vision for the metaverse, sparking a polarized debate about the future of digital environments (Dola ta & Schwabe, 2023).Alongside this vision, the company announced its rebranding from Facebook to Meta, a move that underscored its commit ment to virtual environments.This rebranding signaled to stakeholders that Meta's founder was serious about reshaping the digital landscape.The timing of this shift was notable.At the time, Facebook was grappling with criticism surrounding its platforms, particularly Instagram, impact on mental health and societal polarization.During these challenges, Meta's rebranding seemed to serve as a strategic move to redirect public and industry attention.The announcement ignited a wave of excitement, with journalists and technology enthusiasts engaging in extensive debates about the potential of immersive systems.Four years later, the reality appears more complex.Meta has already let go of some of the developers originally hired to bring this vision of the metaverse to life (Heath, 2024).While this might cast some doubt on the company's long-term commitment, it's undeniable that immersive environ ments are here to stay.In particular, the commercial sector has embraced the metaverse as a new frontier for advertising and selling products.Yet, beyond its commercial potential, the metaverse offers intriguing pos sibilities for non-commercial applications.How might this digital sphere be harnessed for societal benefit?Could virtual environments facilitate meaningful public participation, allowing users to contribute as citizens and shape their physical surroundings through virtual engagement?This article explores the current state of public participation in the meta verse and envisions how these virtual spaces could serve as platforms for civic engagement and societal contributions.Meta did not coin the term "metaverse, " nor did it invent immersive environments.The term was first introduced by author Neal Stephenson 203 10.