If you work with kids, you have probably heard of the Metaverse. So what exactly is the Metaverse?
Science fiction writer Neal Stephenson first coined the term "Metaverse" in his 1992 cyberpunk novel, Snow Crash, referring to a virtual world inhabited by avatars of real people.
Mark Zuckerberg is calling it the future of the internet.
Metaverse is a broad term that refers to virtual environments where people can interact like they would in the real world.
Most people associate the Metaverse with virtual reality in worlds like Second Life or Minecraft. But some believe that the Metaverse will expand beyond gaming and will become a workplace. People will be able to meet and share presentations and introduce products.
Some researchers are estimating that the Metaverse could become a $872 billion market by 2028.
So what do children think about the Metaverse? More than 600 kids were polled about what they know and think about the Metaverse. Here are some of their responses.
“Yes, I’ve heard of the metaverse. What the metaverse is, like, it’s kind of like a separate universe where it’s completely digital instead. A few games have already tried to dabble into the metaverse, like Roblox is a really good example. Well, what I like about the metaverse is that anyone can create something. You don’t need to pay in order to create something; you just create it.” (11-year-old)
“Metaverse is what Facebook is now doing, isn't it? With the VR headset.” (13-year-old)
The metaverse allows you to be in “a place where everything can exist as one. Your avatar can exist in different places.” (16-year-old)
“I think that’s what got me into interior design on Minecraft. Mainly on Pinterest and YouTube, I type in Minecraft survival houses, because I guess it’s OK in creative, but my favorite is survival. I just built a house yesterday, but it had a farm next to it, crops, and an upstairs balcony. It was very cool.” (girl, 10)
“I built Naruto’s house from [Japanese manga series] Naruto. Took me forever. I sent a photo of it to my friend because she plays Minecraft as well, and she has this amazing creative world.” (girl, 13)
When asked what the top video games in the Metaverse are, the children polled said...
- 65% Minecraft
- 56% Roblox
- 50% Fortnite
- 32% Mario Kart
When asked what brands they want their avatar to wear in the Metaverse, here is what they said.
- 44% Nike
- 22% Adidas
- 20% Gucci
- 14% Vans
58% of six-to-16-year-olds claim they have an avatar that they buy clothes for.
Friendships. 25% of children say they have a friend in the Metaverse that they have never met in person.
This was made clear during the pandemic. With in person restrictions in place, millions of kids turned to the Metaverse for interaction with other kids. Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, Animal Crossing, Among Us and Call of Duty became their playgrounds.
When it comes to kids being immersed in the Metaverse, parental concerns about safety and screen time come into play. Like any other online program, parents want to make sure that the Metaverse is a safe place for their children to experience.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Metaverse. As it continues to grow and expand, I believe we will see kids immersed in online church experiences.
Imagine kids being there with David as he faces Goliath.
Imagine kids being part of an online Bible study group.
Imagine kids sharing the Gospel in the Metaverse.
Imagine kids starting a kid's church in the Metaverse.
The Metaverse will offer many opportunities in the years ahead for kids to further the kingdom of God.
What are your thoughts about the Metaverse?
How can it be used to bring glory and honor to God?
Share your insight in the comment section below.
