The idea of a fully digital world that exists beyond reality has been around for decades. For many, it seemed inevitable that the growth of technology would lead society into an era when a virtual second life would be just as important, if not more, than the realities of physical life.
These ideas are evident in popular literature. In fact, the term “metaverse” was first used to describe this kind of virtual reality in Neal Stephenson’s 1992 novel, “Snow Crash”. And in 2011, Ernest Cline took the idea even further with his book, “Ready Player One”, which builds on the existing metaverse tendencies of video games and other technologies.
Now, thanks to a global pandemic that has forced a massive withdrawal from many of the day-to-day realities of physical living, interest in the metaverse virtual reality has increased exponentially.
This development has not been lost on some of the biggest tech giants in the world.
Today, companies like Meta, Epic Games, and Roblox are actively creating the technology to bring the metaverse virtual reality to life, while others – like Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Disney – are not far behind them in both interest and effort.
It is the next wave of technological advancement.
But there is so much yet to be determined about the metaverse – and not just about how technology will make it possible but also how it will transform the way we live our everyday lives and create new opportunities to monetize this development.
At Dirty Boots Capital, we strive to understand the greater impact of technology and other seemingly unrelated societal changes on the investment landscape because macro-level elements will always exert some degree of influence on what, why, and how we invest.
That is why we are keeping the metaverse virtual reality on our radar.
Will the metaverse make real estate in real life more valuable? Less valuable? While a digital world is virtual and intangible, you can actually touch physical real estate. There is value in that reality. But we do not know how that value will change with the adoption of the metaverse.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what the metaverse is, how it may impact society for good and bad, and why you should consider investing both in and within the metaverse.
Metaverse Meaning: What is the Metaverse?
Now, exactly what is the metaverse? According to Mark Zuckerberg and his team at Meta, the metaverse is a virtual place to experience and access life in a way that is not always possible within reality.
Meta’s mission is to allow society to become as virtually connected as possible.
In comparison to a video game, Meta will allow everyday people to use a headset and clip-on technology to transfer their real bodies into the metaverse where they then can interact with their new reality via an avatar. They will be able to socialize, work, shop, attend concerts and parties, have meetings, travel, exercise, and even invest in NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and use cryptocurrencies to purchase Metaland and virtual collections.
Investing in the metaverse will allow this new era of technology to be another source of income for anyone who chooses to take the risk.
The metaverse turns gaming into a new life, a place where people can live out their wildest dreams and have opportunities like never before. The possibilities for the metaverse are seemingly endless.
So, perhaps the best way to answer the question of “what is the metaverse?” is to take a closer look at some of these possibilities.
One example is a simple get-together with friends. Instead of waiting months to see your closest friends at your go-to restaurant, you can all virtually meet up within the metaverse and cut out the driving, excessive planning, and cost. Many will feel connected to family and friends they otherwise wouldn’t get to see on a regular basis.
Or, instead of going to a gym and feeling uncomfortable or unwelcome, you can attend a Meta gym class from the comfort of your own home. This cuts out any embarrassment you might feel and gets rid of the process of leaving home to get your workout in.
Goodbye snow days and hello metaverse classes! With the metaverse, you can attend school no matter the weather and get out on time every year. The Meta classroom will differ from Zoom as you can virtually enter the room as a character and see your friends as well and interact with them in a way you have not yet been able to achieve before online.
Convenience is everything, and this new technology provides so much convenience and virtual freedom it will be hard to resist. The ability to find what you need will increase while the energy it takes to do so will decrease, allowing you more time to do the things you truly enjoy like spending time at home with friends and family or pursuing your passions.
If this virtual world sounds too far from reality, think about how popular virtual forms of money have become in the last five years; we have all heard about Bitcoin and Dogecoin, and even Elon Musk talks highly of cryptocurrency.
Buying your avatar a life filled with cool art, nice clothes, big houses, free travel, etc. will be entertaining and allow you to express yourself digitally in a way society has not witnessed yet. Plus, buying NFTs to host clubs, conferences, parties and more can help you make a quick buck while simultaneously creating a virtual social life for yourself.
But what will all of this mean for society and our future?
How Does Virtual Reality Work In a Society?
Virtual reality can benefit any demographic and improve the quality of life for many when used as a tool to allow people who cannot interact as easily with the real world – due to sickness or other limitations – to do so from the comfort of their own home.
For instance, while the real world allows for important downtime after busy days, the metaverse can offer even greater comfort and downtime by allowing employees to work in the metaverse, or even just take conference calls, meetings, or any other time-consuming work-related events within the metaverse. This will create more free time and more balance between work and play.
Many people enjoy spending their downtime playing a game or watching entertainment. The metaverse can allow these people a chance to catch up with their buddies through a game, adventure, or more without having to take them away from home and family.
The metaverse would also give anyone in the dating scene looking to meet people online an opportunity to meet people in a more genuine way because it offers that sense of realness without actually being there.
The entertainment value of the metaverse can also create bonding experiences for couples and families. No matter what the metaverse offers, there will be something that appeals to everyone’s personal interests.
Men and women in their 40s and 50s can benefit from the metaverse as well, from being able to work virtually to have the ability to see their family no matter where they live.
Many adults at this age feel a change in purpose, resulting in a big move, career change, divorce, etc. The metaverse can be a resource to support people going through such changes and looking for people who are in the same place as them. Adults can find love, friends, or any type of support they need by joining groups within the metaverse which can be appealing and help this demographic feel young and social again.
Even the Boomer generation can learn to love this new technology!
Men and women who are 60 and beyond can still enjoy all life has to offer through the metaverse. Many older people struggle with getting around, may have health conditions, or simply live too far from their loved ones, but they can feel connected to the world virtually. The metaverse will bring them the ability to speak to doctors, counselors, and other professionals from the comfort of their home.
Many older people can benefit from virtual therapy sessions from mental health to physical therapy, and they won’t have to rely on anyone to help them get to their appointments. Towards the end of your life, your loved ones matter the most, and you may not have the ability to see them as often as you wish, but the metaverse can change this.
Is the Metaverse Virtual Reality Something to Pursue?
Is this all too good to be true? Will the metaverse really allow us to thrive? Will we feel connected in this virtual world, or will we feel just as alone as we do when we waste our day scrolling through social media platforms?
Social media was made to connect the world just like the metaverse, but it often leads to feeling even more disconnected.
We all know that social media as it is today has already increased individuals’ depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. And it has been shown that screen time in excess is addictive and can actually rewire your brain to have a short attention span. Screen time is not monitored, and phones now have more options to lock themselves out of addicting apps because of how difficult it can be to put the device down. These issues may only be inflated when applied to a metaverse that enables its users to fully enter a virtual realm.
It is hard to tell how the metaverse will change these issues, and we won’t fully know until we dive into the virtual realm, but there is a good chance that the effect social media has on society will only be amplified if we enter a virtual world. Addiction, depression, anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness could increase dramatically if users spend excessive amounts of time in the metaverse virtual reality and not enough time in the real world and in nature.
With this in mind, it is no surprise that while the idea of living a real life as well as a virtual life may sound appealing to some, it may be a nightmare come true for others. Will the social classes we see in the real-world transfer over to the metaverse? Will everyone truly get the same opportunity in this virtual world? When capitalism comes into the metaverse, it can quickly cause virtual inequality, similar to the real-world issues we face today.
If you do not have as many NFTs as someone else, you can feel lesser than them. Or maybe your avatar has basic clothes in comparison to other people’s avatars and you may not fit in virtually or in the real world.
Having a real world and a virtual world only doubles the chances for inequality to be present. People will not only be worrying about themselves in the real world but also who they are in the metaverse, causing stress and an even bigger desire to fit in somewhere and feel important.
Another drawback is that even when some people may not want to live in a VR world, they will feel pressured or forced to do so due to their work’s policy for working from home. As the metaverse gains popularity, you may find yourself joining just to keep up with the Joneses.
Many people enjoy the simple life, and this will make them feel that if they do not enter the virtual realm they will not be able to succeed in the future. If our society shifts into a two-dimensional life (real and virtual), we will change the lives of future generations forever without knowing the long-term effects.
One day, our kids or grandkids may feel sad that they never got to experience the natural, real world in comparison to their ancestors and feel confused about the real world. Children’s brains will develop so differently from the people we know today, and living a double life will be something you have to do to stay up to date with the times.
While the concept and technology of the metaverse are amazing and bring with them many good things, the metaverse can simultaneously take away from future generations in ways we cannot yet predict.
The opportunities are endless in the metaverse. We could use it to create a beautiful virtual life for our society. But in every society, real or virtual, there is no such thing as a true utopia. Being aware of potential risks upfront can help make the metaverse a safe space for people to enjoy activities, socialize, gain work-related opportunities and more, well into the future.
How to Invest in the Metaverse
Investing in the metaverse is a bit like the Wild West right now. It is new, there are many unknowns, and everyone is rushing to stake their claim.
The opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs are almost limitless.
For instance, investing in Metaland can dematerialize how we view real-estate investment. Erasing the idea of owning physical pieces of land and shifting to a world where you can have virtual assets will allow more economic growth within our society than currently possible.
Investing in Metaland can provide greater financial freedom and ownership opportunities in comparison to the real world, where most land has already been purchased. Since the metaverse virtual reality is so new, there really is an equal opportunity to get ahold of these assets.
Entrepreneurs will also have an expanded virtual realm in which to do business. You can start by owning Metaland, opening virtual businesses, or offering virtual services to users.
If you are looking for how to invest in the metaverse without starting a business, an easy way is by owning “NFT’s” also known as non-fungible tokens. These one-of-a-kind virtual tokens cannot be replicated, so when you invest in them, the only way someone else can have that token is if you sell it to them. An NFT will allow people to own virtual images, properties, clubs, clothing, etc. and since each one is unique, these NFT’s have the potential to hold a great deal of value.
NFTs are a fun way to express yourself in the virtual world, and many of the younger generations view virtual goods to have equal if not more value than material items. You can use NFT’s to allow your personal avatar to express who you are or who you want to be. Meta clothing and accessories will begin to increase in popularity as companies invest and create fashion within the metaverse virtual reality. Imagine going to the virtual fashion show and buying a piece of clothing off the virtual runway. This appeals to the younger generation the most as they begin to develop their sense of self, and in turn, their sense of style.
And if you aren’t ready to invest or do business within the metaverse, there are still ways to benefit financially as those who do know how to invest in the metaverse will create job opportunities for others.
Virtual assistants are already popular in the business world thanks to the power of the internet, but they are bound to explode in popularity with the new advantages of the metaverse. Both the worker and the customer benefit because nobody has to leave their home and they are still able to speak with investors, realtors, bosses, companies, and more within the metaverse in a virtually realistic way. When you are leading a busy life, having the ability to meet with whoever you need, plan meetings, hold interviews, or even just check in virtually will change the workplace forever.
There are so many unknowns when it comes to the metaverse, but it is here and it is something that has the potential to dominate social media within the next ten years. Despite the unknowns, the development of the metaverse is a good indicator of where society is heading.
That is why the Dirty Boots Capital team is looking into the metaverse and the many ways to invest in this new virtual realm. We follow cutting-edge technology like the metaverse because we can see its potential for long-term, society-changing impact.
We are getting our boots dirty to figure this stuff out so that you don’t have to. We are already in conversations with a metaverse land developer and real estate agent to examine the possibility of starting a syndication for people who want to invest in the metaverse so that we can help tie investors into these new opportunities
If you want to be the first to know about the opportunities we discover and be in the best position to invest, become an existing investor with us on our other deals.
Opportunity is apparent in the virtual world. Investing now while the metaverse is still so new will allow you an opportunity for financial freedom that may feel out of reach to you in the real-world.
The possibilities await!
It is up to you to decide if they are worth the investment.
