Are We Mentally Ready for the Metaverse? [Content Made Simple]
Are We Mentally Ready for the Metaverse? [Content Made Simple]
Issue #254: Attention economy, cringe brands, and more.
TOP OF THE WEEK:
Are We Mentally Ready for the Metaverse?
Quote:
A common pushback that critics of the metaverse and web3-thinking receive is: “you obviously don’t understand it.” Sceptics are often accused of being obnoxious, stupid, dangerous, misinformed, old or, even worse, threatening free speech and upholding the evils of capitalism.
People are mocked for not understanding it. A bunch of hardcore advocates appear to be running around social spaces picking fights with anyone who feels slightly fearful of such vast, uncharted territories, threatening them with impending irrelevance. Which seems… extreme. We truly do live in an era of online radicalisation. There’re some great minds at work building the future, no doubt, but, inevitably, also the worst of minds.
Commentary:
Fair warning, if you haven’t clicked on the link already, there’s some pretty coarse language throughout. But man, what a great piece. It is a clear-eyed take on where we are headed, wondering if it’s really the best idea right now. I’m biased because this is my mentality, but I don’t think it’s fair to call people who are skeptical about web3/metaverse right now “cynical.” We’ve biffed web2 so bad, there is little reason to think we will “get it right” with the future of the web in whatever form that takes.
HITTING THE LINKS
Link #1: The Attention Economy Is a Warzone
Great piece here examining a fascinating phenomenon.
And considering there are reports this morning that the Biden administration is considering deploying troops to Ukraine, I think it is probably worth questioning any and all narratives surrounding Russian internet campaigns. The international online attention economy is a war zone and there is a lot of money being spent right now to not just win it, but define the very nature of it. This is especially true for TikTok, a platform we are still trying to understand. And, in this case, it seems like Swedish teenagers are being PsyOp’d by, well, their own media and each other.
Link #2: How to Avoid Corporate Cringe on Social Media
Is it even possible for brands to avoid cringe on social media? How is it done? This article does as good of a job explaining as any I’ve read.
In today’s social media landscape, brands are desperate to outdo each others quirkiness and finally win over a generation of socially-conscious consumers that are often at war with big corporations. But when brands participate in fleeting trends to which they have no connection and are overly reliant on humor as a social strategy, many experts believe they do more harm than good for their image.
Link #3: Facebook’s embattled cryptocurrency project is likely coming to an end
Good.
More than two years after it was first announced, the Facebook-sponsored cryptocurrency formerly known as Libra appears to be coming to an end. The Diem Association set up by Facebook to manage the digital token is exploring a sale of its assets after meeting resistance by regulators who opposed the initiative, according to a new report by Bloomberg.
I received the author copies of my new book this week. There really is nothing like receiving copies of your own book. If you’d like to preorder a copy, you can do so here.
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THE FUNNY PART
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