28 January 2023 | 1484 Times Viewed
Ömer Fatih Yazıcı, The Transformation of Civil Society Organizations in the Metaverse and Web 3.0
There are many different opinions and evaluations regarding the Metaverse and Web 3.0. While some highlight the positive aspects of the Meta world and Web 3.0, others focus on their negative aspects. Considering both perspectives, this article briefly evaluates how the Metaverse and Web 3.0 will impact civil society and, consequently, humanity.
With the Metaverse and Web 3.0, it will be possible to perform many activities -such as the tasks we do in daily life, programs we attend, and events we participate in- regardless of location. Activities that are traditionally carried out physically, such as visiting a museum, attending a business meeting, or going to school, can be realized virtually in the Meta world. This ease of access to experiences, work, and education is seen as the biggest advantage.
Moreover, just as Web 2.0 has facilitated access to research sources for scientific studies, Web 3.0 in the Metaverse is expected to provide a more immersive and realistic experience.
One of the most common criticisms of the Metaverse and Web 3.0 transformation is its potential negative impact on socialization. Experts frequently debate questions such as: “Will socializing in a virtual environment be the same as in real life?” and “Will the Metaverse cause people to lose their social skills, or will it actually provide an advantage in socialization?” One of the most striking features of the Metaverse is the lack of a concept of time. Critics argue that “People will have difficulty realizing how time passes in this universe.” Additionally, it is suggested that since people will be able to participate in all activities, including education, from their current location, their physical movement will significantly decrease throughout the day.
Particularly in recent years, we have witnessed the rise of artificial and curated lives on social media platforms, where the perception of making easy money has become increasingly prominent. Users who transform their daily lives into commodities for public consumption, disregarding their privacy, have created new professional groups. With Web 3.0 technology, this trend is expected to expand within the Metaverse. Another debated issue is the potential laziness that the Metaverse may encourage. As people become accustomed to the convenience of digital environments, they might develop a growing preference for easy money-making opportunities. This concern is one of the most criticized aspects of the Metaverse, as it could create new societal challenges.
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which have gained popularity in recent years, also hold an important place in the Metaverse discussion. Despite some uncertainties surrounding the Metaverse, NFTs compatible with Metaverse technology are already being developed, and they are expected to play a significant role in the future. Many works that are sold as NFTs have already secured their place in the digital world. It is anticipated that NFTs will eventually be displayed, bought, and sold within the Metaverse.
A noteworthy example of the intersection of civil society and social responsibility with the Metaverse has recently emerged in Turkey. The local virtual platform Turkverse has launched a social responsibility project to raise awareness about endangered animals, plants, and food species by designing them as NFTs. These endangered species were transformed into NFT collections under the name "Future Transformation NFTs", which were then put up for sale. The proceeds from these NFTs were announced to be used for the preservation of endangered species.
As the Metaverse develops, it is anticipated that civil society organizations (CSOs) will also shift their physical activities to the Meta universe, allowing them to reach their volunteers more efficiently, at lower costs, and in a more engaging way. This shift is expected to enable CSOs to carry out widespread digital campaigns and projects aligned with their missions more effectively.
Ömer Fatih Yazıcı
The ideas expressed in this article belong to the author and may not reflect STMÜ's editorial policy.
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