What is knows about the Metaverse, which is intended to be monopolized by high-end technology corporations, that can be introduced as the true owners of the new world? Allegedly, the Metaverse is a platform made up of digital twins, modeled environments, and advanced reality technologies that will go beyond what we currently understand. The crucial aspect here is talking about things “beyond what we know.” In addition to numerous potential advantages, the metaverse—which might be highlighted as the final benefit provided by the internet revolution to humanity—also poses significant risks and threats that must not be overlooked. This chapter aims to enlighten readers on the threats and risks associated with using Metaverse learning environments, even though this was not their intended use from their design. It is crucial to highlight that Metaverse, which is currently solely organized under the control of a few high-end technology corporations, has the potential to become a dystopian nightmare for everyone, thus we must be vigilant to avoid this from happening.
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In the last 40 years, there has been an astonishing technological transformation. The rise of personal computers, the adventure of the internet, and its prevalence have permitted the transition of human behaviors such as communication, social, and economic interactions from physical to digital contexts. For example, instead of cooking at home, we can order food from any restaurant with a few clicks. Or, if we want to speak with distant pals, we do not have to wait days; today's smartphones provide us with online communication options. To summarize, although we are gradually severing our multiplexed connections with the physical world, the technological revolution proceeds at a pace. Technologies such as central and graphic processing units, artificial intelligence (AI), data processing, machine learning, big data, and cryptography not only advanced quickly after 2010 but also catalyzed the formation of higher-level technical breakthroughs. For example, blockchain technology has decentralized data, paving the path for decentralized data processing. Although this technology is most often associated with cryptocurrency, the background of this technology may be described as limiting monopolized power and maintaining privacy. Therefore, blockchain technology has the potential to be applied in all domains where privacy is critical. These domains can range from governmental administration to educational environments, digital identities, insurance, law, and health. However, it should be highlighted that, while these modifications occur in various sectors, the underlying idea is common. It is the computerization of physical World elements, processes, and activities. Even though all these innovations are happening at breakneck speed now, it remained a mystery how these disparate technologies will be connected. Until the ‘metaverse’ notion has emerged! The notion of “metaverse,” which originally emerged in Neal Stephenson's science fiction novel Snow Crash in 1992 (Stephenson, 1992), is moving away from science fiction and toward a technology-based function. It is probable to argue that Facebook's declaration that it might change the corporation’s name to Meta in 2021 sparked a surge of interest in the notion of the Metaverse. The reaction of the Facebook company to change its name is interpreted as a move to avoid the public relations crisis caused by the company's data breaches and elaborate information manipulations. On the other hand, this case can also be seen as a shift in direction for Web 2.0 technology, which has reached saturation as of 2015. In brief, the notion of metaverse defined the potential of constructing a universe that allows two-dimensional internet technologies to become three-dimensional. The metaverse, which represents the process of transferring the internet from a 2D digital screen to a 3D digital universe, will bring together various blockchain-based technologies that have recently emerged, as well as put them into a meaningful structure and bring up various controversial issues. For example, in terms of technological capabilities, the central processing power necessary for hundreds of individuals to connect and engage dynamically in a realistically designed metaverse environment will not be the same as the processing power required for millions of people to do the same. It is feasible to discuss a major technological constraint in this regard. Technical specifications of today's VR glasses will be a major challenge, given that VR glasses are still incapable of overcoming the problems of portability, weight, and dizziness that make them unsuitable for long-term use. On the other hand, convincing people to use VR glasses to participate in the metaverse environment may also cause a problem beyond a series of technical problems that need to be overcome. Because there is a significant changing case, and human nature is prone to resisting the change. However, the usability and technological issues stated thus far can be tackled in some way. Therefore, the metaverse is not only a technology-based product but also has the potential to have a philosophical significance.