www.economist.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
172.64.149.24
Public Scan
Submitted URL: https://app.go.economist.com/e/er?utm_medium=Eloqua&utm_source=email&s=2689&lid=37897&elqTrackId=630c56270d0f43f78a324dd13ffa...
Effective URL: https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/11/what-is-the-metaverse?utm_medium=Eloqua&utm_source=email
Submission: On October 25 via api from US — Scanned from DE
Effective URL: https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/11/what-is-the-metaverse?utm_medium=Eloqua&utm_source=email
Submission: On October 25 via api from US — Scanned from DE
Form analysis 1 forms found in the DOM
GET /search
<form action="/search" method="get" class="ds-search-form-container">
<div class="ds-form-field-layout ds-form-field-layout--adjacent"><label class="ds-form-label ds-form-label--inverse" for="masthead-search"><span>Search</span></label>
<div class="ds-form-field-combined-input"><input type="text" class="ds-form-input ds-form-input--inverse" id="masthead-search" name="q" placeholder=" " value=""><button class="ds-button ds-button--secondary ds-button--inverse ds-button--icon"
data-analytics="masthead:search"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" role="img" aria-labelledby="masthead-search-icon">
<title id="masthead-search-icon">Search</title>
<path d="M15.5 14h-.79l-.28-.27A6.471 6.471 0 0016 9.5 6.5 6.5 0 109.5 16c1.61 0 3.09-.59 4.23-1.57l.27.28v.79l5 4.99L20.49 19l-4.99-5zm-6 0C7.01 14 5 11.99 5 9.5S7.01 5 9.5 5 14 7.01 14 9.5 11.99 14 9.5 14z"></path>
</svg></button></div>
</div>
</form>Text Content
The EconomistThe EconomistSkip to content * Menu * Weekly edition * Search Subscribe Log in * FEATURED * War in Ukraine * Recession watch * US midterms * Climate change * Coronavirus * 1843 magazine * The world in brief * SECTIONS * The world this week * Leaders * Letters * Briefing * United States * The Americas * Asia * China * Middle East & Africa * Europe * Britain * International * Business * Finance & economics * Science & technology * Culture * Graphic detail * Obituary * Special reports * Technology Quarterly * Essay * By Invitation * Schools brief * The World Ahead 2022 * What If? * The Economist explains * The Economist reads * MORE * Newsletters * Podcasts * Films * Subscriber events * iOS app * Android app * Online courses * My Economist * Saved stories * Log out * Saved stories * Account * Log out Search Search The Economist explains WHAT IS THE METAVERSE? THE LIMITLESS SUCCESSOR TO THE INTERNET, FIRST IMAGINED BY NEAL STEPHENSON 30 YEARS AGO May 11th 2021 Share FACEBOOK PLANS to hire 10,000 people in the EU over the next five years to build a metaverse. The company announced as much on October 17th. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s boss, has previously spoken of his intention to turn the social-media giant into a “metaverse company.” Plenty of other tech bigwigs have similar ambitions. Tim Sweeney, the boss of Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, a popular video game, has said he aims “to build something like a metaverse from science fiction.” And in April Jensen Huang, the boss of Nvidia, an American chipmaker, told Time magazine that he wants to create “a virtual world that is a digital twin of ours.” What is a metaverse, and how might one be built? The word comes from “Snow Crash,” published in 1992, the third, and arguably the best, novel by Neal Stephenson, an American science-fiction author. The book’s main character, named Hiro Protagonist, delivers pizza for the Mafia, which now controls territory in what used to be the United States. When not working, Mr Protagonist plugs into the Metaverse: a networked virtual reality in which people appear as self-designed “avatars” and engage in activities both mundane (conversation, flirting) and extraordinary (sword fights, mercenary espionage). Like the internet, Mr Stephenson’s Metaverse is a collective, interactive endeavour that is always on and is beyond the control of any one person. As in a video game, people inhabit and control characters that move through space. ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? LOG IN GET TO THE END OF THE STORY ENJOY THE ECONOMIST WITH FLEXIBLE BENEFITS AND LOWER PRICES. STUDENT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE View subscription options * Distinctive global analysis with more than 100 articles a week on The Economist app and economist.com * An immersive world with podcasts and digital newsletters * Intelligent debate with a global community in subscriber-only digital events Or continue reading this article Register now Share Reuse this content The Economist today HANDPICKED STORIES, IN YOUR INBOX A daily newsletter with the best of our journalism Sign up MORE FROM THE ECONOMIST EXPLAINS HOW MUCH DO AMERICA’S VOTING-ACCESS REFORMS AFFECT TURNOUT? The most divisive laws have the least impact WHY UKRAINE’S ORTHODOX CHURCHES ARE AT LOGGERHEADS Its two branches are divided by politics, not faith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW AMERICA’S MIDTERMS COULD RESHAPE THE COURTS Abortion rights and fair electoral maps are at stake -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Subscribe * Group subscriptions * Reuse our content * The Trust Project * Help and contact us KEEP UPDATED * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * LinkedIn * YouTube * RSS Published since September 1843 to take part in “a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.” THE ECONOMIST * About * Advertise * Press centre THE ECONOMIST GROUP * The Economist Group * Economist Intelligence * Economist Impact * Economist Events * Working Here * Economist Education Courses * Which MBA? * Executive Jobs * Executive Education Navigator * Terms of Use * Privacy * Cookie Policy * Manage Cookies * Accessibility * Modern Slavery Statement * Do Not Sell My Personal Information Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2022. All rights reserved.