Facebook has officially changed its name to Meta. And they’ve announced their plans to create a virtual world called “the Metaverse”. But what is the Facebook Metaverse and what does it mean for you?
Facebook recently surprised the tech world by changing its name to Meta. Along with the name change, the company also briefly outlined their ideas for an augmented reality space known as the Metaverse. You’re probably asking yourself, what does any of that mean? Well, we’re right there with you. Facebook’s reveal of the Metaverse was confusing to say the least. And for a company with a history of tracking and misleading its users, a confusing reveal can be more alarming than exciting.
Safety and Privacy in the Metaverse
So what is the Metaverse? According to Facebook, it will act as a means of living your full life in a virtual environment. With all our forms of social media, we already do that to a degree, but supposedly the Metaverse will take our online dependence even further. Facebook intends the Metaverse to be a place where virtual communities can be interconnected and the users can do anything and everything online.
As Victoria Petrock, a technology analyst, states, “It’s the next evolution of connectivity where all of those things start to come together in a seamless, doppelganger universe, so you’re living your virtual life the same way you’re living your physical life”. And the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, hopes that the users can “teleport” from one experience to another inside the Metaverse. For many, this sounds appealing. The ease and convenience of a virtual existence is enticing. But others have voiced concerns about the Metaverse further disconnecting people from one another and from the physical world. And if that’s not concerning enough, Facebook certainly doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to protecting its users.
Facebook Privacy Controversy
Historically, Facebook has been reckless and at times downright negligent with consumer data. If they’re in charge of an immersive virtual experience like the Metaverse, you have plenty of reason to be concerned. The company has been embroiled in controversy since their inception in 2004 and for good reason. They’ve been accused of relentlessly tracking their users, influencing elections with misinformation, and contributing to the mental health issues of adolescents. Most recently, they’ve been outed by a whistleblower that claimed Facebook “puts profit over people”. A statement which came as no surprise to the people familiar with Facebook’s dangerous data practices.
Facebook Privacy Controversy
Should a company with so many instances of untrustworthy practices be trusted to lead the charge in virtual reality? Probably not. Facebook has already been reckless with your data in the current virtual space. So just imagine how dangerous they could be with even more of your life online.
Don’t let the name change fool you. Just because Facebook has changed its name to Meta, doesn’t mean the company will be run any differently. Zuckerberg has chosen to rebrand but he’ll remain at the helm. And one can only assume that with the same management the company will continue to prioritize profits over the safety and privacy of their users.
How to Stay Safe Online
Facebook is no longer Facebook. But that change seems to be in name only. The company has not made any claims that they’ll treat consumer data any differently. Nor have they announced any plans to make their platform safer for their younger users. So what can you do to make sure that you and your family are safe while you use Facebook?
Well, the best way to protect your data online is through Privacy Bee. Privacy Bee is a consumer data solution that makes it easy to protect yourself and your family on the internet. Rather than browsing the web completely exposed, you can use Privacy Bee to protect your personal information from the data hungry corporations, scammers, and hackers that lurk around every corner.
With extended family protection services, 24/7 vulnerability monitoring, and data broker removal services, Privacy Bee uses every resource available to protect you while you’re online. Sure, companies like Facebook can enhance our lives through the convenience which they provide, but you can at least make sure that you stay protected. Start staying safe online today with a 100% free privacy evaluation!
