As the real world becomes increasingly difficult to live in – with divisive politics, environmental issues, failing economies and an ever increasing wealth gap. A new world free of climate change, poverty, honourable leadership becomes the pinnacle of a democratic dream land. How do we get there? Well Mark Zuckerberg and friends believe it’s in a technological utopia Known as the metaverse.
But haven’t we been promised utopia before?
The Industrial Revolution promised increased production and efficiency, lower prices and fair trade.
Disneyland was birthed like Venice, only this time it emerged like a mirage in an empty desert filled with forests, water features and chirping animatronic birds singing while families ate burgers and fries. A world where innovation and imagination met.
But like The Wizard of Oz, these cautionary tales show us that behind the promises of a fantastical yellow brick road leading to the Emerald City, is merely an old white man hidden behind the curtains – where the theatrics of our world are built on labour, machinery using dwindling natural resources and yes, plenty imagination.
And so every vivid and fantastical digital experience has a man and his machines behind it but in this 4th Industrial Revolution you are less likely to see them. And instead of one man it’s a monopolized global conglomerate with terms and conditions 28 pages long.
Digital is a dichotomy of good, evil and trash. Just like the real world. At the end of the day humans are still building and monitizing just like they did in the Industrial Revolution. History shows us that we can’t help but create and destroy at the same time.
The next digital Dawn is dawn is upon us. It’s exciting and it’s scary. Luckily previous revolutions and the launching of the World Wide Web and the evolution of Meta have taught us a thing or two if we care to learn from history’s past mistakes. We cannot fight it but instead use the tools and in the same breadth not become overly reliant on it as individuals or brands. Because fundamentally, digital ideas are borrowed from people. Even ChatGPT, could not exist without the input from people dating back hundreds of years. And it is only in our hands that we can unleash a beast or a better world.