IDENTITY IN THE METAVERSE: AUTHENTICITY VS. ESCAPISM
Identity is a topic debated by many philosophers for centuries, and here we are taking this debate to the future of the metaverse.
The metaverse is a virtual world, an alternate reality where people can interact with each others, play, and live virtual experiences that can be as similar as real life experiences or totally imaginary and made possible through technology. In this world, individuals can create an avatar, a name/alias and express their thoughts through their voices or chat, just like in real life. They basically create a digital representation of themselves. This representation becomes their identity in the metaverse, a projection of who they are. The question that arises is, should this identity be a replica of real life or should it be a fantasy of what we want to be?
Having an accurate representation of one's real life in the metaverse can help establish a sense of trust and accountability among users. This is because the virtual identity reflects the same values, morals, and principles as the real-life persona, making it easier for others to understand who they are interacting with. In this way, the metaverse can become a more trustworthy and safer environment, as people can feel confident that they are engaging with someone who is who they say they are.
Another advantage of having an accurate representation of one's real life in the metaverse is that it can foster a sense of community and connection. When people know who they are interacting with, they are more likely to engage in meaningful and genuine interactions, leading to a more positive and enriching experience in the virtual world.
On a psychological level, having a consistent virtual identity that aligns with real life can help individuals maintain a sense of continuity between the two worlds. This can be especially important for those who spend a significant amount of time in the metaverse and may struggle to separate their virtual and real life identities. By having a virtual identity that mirrors their real life persona, individuals can more easily maintain a sense of stability and balance between the two worlds.
On the other hand, there are those who believe that the metaverse should be a place of escapism, where individuals can create a new identity that is free from the constraints of real life. In this way, the metaverse provides an opportunity for people to explore different aspects of themselves, experiment with new personalities, and express themselves in ways that may not be possible in the physical world. Friedrich Nietzsche would have loved that metaverse. In terms of identity, he believed that individuals should reject the fixed, preconceived notions of who they are or who they should be and instead embrace their individuality and uniqueness. He argued that individuals should create their own values and define their own sense of self, free from external constraints. This theory, in the metaverse, like in the internet in general, can protect the user’s privacy. One might decide to hide their personal information from malicious activities. People in favor of this theory would argue that in real life, individuals may feel limited by their social status, physical appearance, or other personal factors. In the metaverse, however, individuals have the freedom to create a new identity that is not tied to their physical or real-life persona. This can be particularly appealing for those who are shy or introverted in real life, as it provides a safe space where they can express themselves freely and interact with others without fear of judgement or rejection.
These arguments would be totally true if everyone had the same starting point in the metaverse, however, many factors make it harder to create a totally new version of yourself and decide to become whatever you want to be in this world. For a start, exclusiveness, scarcity and social status, are part of this virtual world as well, brands are creating NFTs and digital assets that can be bought for your avatar, you can purchase a unique piece of land, so If you have the financial means in real life you have a head start and you will be able to transfer those means and access this exclusive content. The metaverse already started being monetised and will continue being so. Until there are jobs in the metaverse, we will need real life funds (which aren’t spread equally) to pay for our virtual life luxuries.
The metaverse, as it is today, is not a unified world, there are many metaverses and platforms. The existence of one parallel world is not totally there yet, nor it is confirmed to be. There is no one clear way to answer if you should reflect your exact self on these multiple platforms or decide to change it. Just like the internet today, you might provide your online banking website with all your accurate information, name and address but decide to use a nickname while gaming. The same thing applies to the metaverse and the choice ultimately lies with the individual. However, it is important to be mindful of the impact that the metaverse can have on our lives and to create a balance between escapism and self-preservation.
*Image created with Midjourney
