The metaverse may sound like a distant concept, but it already has a presence in children’s lives and could be the next giant leap for the internet. That may sound daunting, but fear not – we’re here to help parents feel more meta-literate (yes that is a thing) so that we’re all a little more prepared as our children transition towards the metaverse.

What is the metaverse?

The metaverse is a term that’s been thrown around since the early 90s, but since Facebook rebranded as Meta and global companies started investing billions in the metaverse, people have started paying more attention to it.

There are many interpretations of what the metaverse actually is, but most people are describing the metaverse as a series of connected online worlds where users can interact with each other through avatars (graphical representations of a user’s character or persona) using devices such as virtual reality headsets.

While the metaverse has not yet been fully developed, we have seen elements of the metaverse play out already in what some call ‘mini-metaverses’. For example, in Fortnight and Roblox players have their own avatars, can access a shared digital environment, can interact with people in real-time, and the games even have their own currency (V-Bucks and Robux, respectively).

What are the benefits of the metaverse for my child?

It is likely that the children will predominantly use the metaverse for gaming and socialising. It will provide numerous opportunities for them to connect with others, be creative, entertained and even entrepreneurial. But all these experiences will play out in a more immersive way, as children may feel like they are actually present in the digital environment they are accessing.

‍

To read more, please click here to visit our full article at the Vodafone News Centre.