The Metaverse is on Life Support

According to The Verge, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has given the metaverse a year to turn things around. Specifically, he’s talking about Horizon Worlds, Meta’s flagship metaverse app. But let’s be real – how much can really change in a year? It feels like an unnecessary arbitrary deadline, especially when you consider the multi-billion dollar burn rate.

As someone who’s been a big proponent of VR for years (I was a Google Cardboard user, then migrated to the Quest 2, and now I’m on a Quest 3 which I use a few times a week), even I saw the writing on the wall. The biggest issue, besides the lack of users, is that the metaverse is overrun by potty-mouthed kids.

This is a relatively recent problem and I’m far from the first to highlight it. But it’s easy to see how we got here.

When Meta released the Quest 3S last year, the budget-friendly headset made VR accessible to a wider audience. When that happened, VR went from being a niche hobby for enthusiasts to something a kid could find under the Christmas tree. And that’s exactly what happened.

On paper, making VR affordable sounds great. In reality, it’s turned the metaverse into a digital daycare. As of November 2024, Meta claims Horizon Worlds has 600 million daily users (which seems…optimistic), with 51% of them being under the age of 13. Based on my own experience I would have that last number much higher.

And it’s not just the kids. Big brands like Disney, Wendy’s, and Coca-Cola have all bailed on the metaverse. If companies with that much marketing muscle couldn’t make it work, what hope does anyone else have?

To be fair, not all big names have pulled out. Wallmart is an unlikely exception after their initial vision failed to comical effect, but they have since doubled down.

Even if you ignore the kid invasion, Horizon Worlds has other problems. The games and interactions feel clunky, and the graphics aren’t much better than the Nintendo Wii from 2006 which makes it difficult to get properly immersed. And it goes without mentioning that grown men should not be in the same virtual space as underage children.

All that aside, you might be surprised to learn that there’s barely anything of interest to do in the metaverse. It’s full of janky games with bad mechanics and lacklustre experiences that seem to be – dare I say it – targeted towards children.

But there was a glimmer of hope. Eventually I entered a world where I was immediately greeted by a Meta employee (a metaverse guide as they’re known). I joked that I was amazed to be interacting with another adult, and he actually laughed while suggesting some ‘adult-friendly’ destinations. Saying it out loud in front of all those kids made it sound way sketchier than it should have.

I did try a couple of his suggestions: a stand-up comedy club where anyone can practice their routine, and a mock courtroom where you can take on a role (judge, lawyer etc). While both worlds did indeed have more adults, we were sadly still vastly outnumbered by children.

I believe the metaverse – at least Zuckerberg’s current vision of it – is slowly circling the drain, but I’m honestly glad I got to experience it even if the current state is a shambles. But what will happen to it after the deadline has passed is anyone’s guess.

One day, decades from now, when the metaverse is built into slim glasses instead of bulky headsets, I’ll look back and remember where it all started. My grandkids will think it’s hilarious, and they’ll be right.