We can't just hang around and hope that the metaverse will be good for us
Aside from our concerns about the future of our physical Earth environment, there is another environment that warrants our attention. And that is the digital sphere. No coincidence then that these two areas are front and center of media focus right now.
In the Business Section of the New York Times a while back, an article entitled: 'Facebook fashions an escape hatch.' caught my attention. The piece referred to Mark Zuckerberg's announcement of his pivot to a new space - the metaverse. In effect, signaling a rebranding of his business. This is not only about a major change in Facebook's business and a possible reputational makeover. It involves all of us, as it has the potential to revolutionize how we live, work and play in a so-called 'immersive digital universe'.
Zuckerberg's Meta logo is an adaptation of the figure eight infinity loop. That's interesting because the infinity loop is also linked to what quantum physicists term an 'attractor pattern'. Once the observer is inside the loop, an attractor, acting like a magnet draws them through the various points in the loop - through the figure eight pattern - from endpoint to endpoint.
Let's say that you are the 'observer.' That's you inside the loop. You will remain there, destined to attract or create behaviors in yourself that will recur. Until you make a conscious decision to exit the loop. To exit the metaverse. Wow! So, you'd better be a highly augmented version of yourself to be paying that kind of attention to what's happening around you. And to you.
There is an interesting issue here, centering on how quickly we should accept radical change as the natural order of things. Should we demand a time lag between idea and execution when it concerns all of us - just so we can keep up? And should we schedule a conversation to explore the implications of that change? Or should we just go along with whatever is 'new' the moment it shows up? And be grateful for it. It's new, so it must be 'better', right?
I suggest that we need to talk about the whole concept of change. Especially change that would trigger a radical transformation of our world and society. And to have this conversation before rather than after the widespread uptake of a major change in how live, work and play online.
This conversation might be introduced by some high-ranking politician, or other executive body, or perhaps in the spirit of democracy, it might even be introduced via a petition signed by an agreed quota of supporters among the general public.
The discussion would ideally be held firstly at global level (United Nations Social Humanitarian and Cultural Committee) with the participation of relevant experts, such as the Center for Humane Technology.
There may even be a need to establish an approval authority, such as exists for new drugs (FDA) and new developments in aviation (FAA). A Federal Technology Agency, perhaps - a concept suggested by the Brookings Institution in their article at: https://www.brookings.edu/research/a-focused-federal-agency-is-necessary-to-oversee-big-tech/
The aim being to clarify the significance of the innovation, identify the pros and cons, and set some ground rules that ensure that the development would, by and large, be beneficial to society.
When the ground rules have been agreed at global level, the next step would be to communicate about this at national level to inform the public at large.
This is even more important today when time seems to have slowed down on the one hand due to the atrophy caused by the COVID lockdowns and to have speeded up, on the other hand, due to the global reality of technology-driven exponential change.
We cannot be blamed for feeling a little confused. Dizzy, even. Many of us are 'running as fast as we can just to stay in the same place', as the Red Queen remarked in Lewis Carroll's epic novel: 'Alice in Wonderland'. Others - Gen Z, especially - are already working and playing in the new space. And 'running' things.
Another piece in the New York Times was coincidentally placed on the same page as the metaverse story. Entitled: 'Old order changes in the workplace', this referred to how Gen Z are shaking things up. Entry-level employees are calling the shots, demanding more flexible working conditions, preferring to work remotely, delegating upwards and not showing up if they are 'not in a good place mentally' on any given morning.
Granted, rebelliousness in young people is nothing new. Nor is pushing boundaries. That's surely a good thing. It creates progress. But there is something seriously different about upending the status quo - just like that.
This raises the question as to whether we are using technological development to create a fairer and more inclusive world where we all play together like nice kids in a global playground, or whether we are simply running away from our troubles by abandoning the 'old', willy-nilly, no matter where the 'new' takes us.
This reminds me of a situation I observed recently when I was at the grocery store. A little boy and his mother were pitched in a loud altercation by the avocado basket. He was screaming. She was desperately trying to calm him down. Most likely to avoid annoying others who looked on, disapprovingly.
No matter how hard she tried - firstly pleading in a soft voice, and then more firmly, pulling him by the arm into a corner - the little boy wouldn't comply.
What was the matter? Apparently, he wanted a toy. A new set of Lego. His mother fumed: 'But you opened a box of Lego just last week.' The kid screamed, his face puce with anger, drenched in tears:' I DON'T WAN’T THOSE OLD LEGOS. I WANT A NEW ONE. JUST ONE! A NEW ONE!'
It is understandable that young people prize new things. Older people are more set in their ways and in the main, don’t welcome change, unless it is gradual. This is a recipe for an altercation. Clearly, if we are to live in harmony with each other, across genders, cultures, and generations, we will have to have a conversation. Not necessarily by the avocados. Nor in a dark corner. But preferably in an open space.
That conversation will, hopefully, be conducted in a spirit of give and take, with mutual respect as the dominant vibe. And be moderated accordingly.
As the song goes: 'A change is gonna come. Oh yes it will.'
The question is: 'Will change be made by us, or to us?'
It's time to make our voices heard. Towards a fairer, more inclusive, and exciting world.
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