Meta's metaverse focus sparks debate over future of social media

In October 2021, Facebook rebranded itself as Meta, signaling a strategic shift towards the metaverse under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg. This change was fueled by the purchase of Oculus in 2014 and the launch of Reality Labs, signifying Meta's long-standing ambition in the virtual reality space. As gaming revenues soared globally amid the pandemic, Meta recognized an opportunity presented by the growing online population and increased interest in virtual technologies. With the launch of Horizon Worlds in December 2021, Meta aimed to carve a niche in open-world platforms, setting an ambitious target of achieving 500,000 active users initially. However, long-term expectations were lofty, with hopes of reaching one billion users by the end of the decade. Yet, internal reports revealed that underwhelming usage plagued Horizon Worlds, with merely 200,000 monthly active users reported less than a year after its debut, significantly falling short of its initial aspirations. The disparity between projected and actual user engagement raises questions about Meta's strategy and the viability of its ambitious metaverse vision. Despite Zuckerberg's optimism, the company must reevaluate its approach to attract a broad user base and fulfill its lofty goals in this evolving digital landscape. The future of the metaverse, once heralded as the next frontier for social interaction, now hinges on Meta's ability to innovate and engage users meaningfully in a saturated digital market.