There’s a common joke within science fiction circles derived from a Tweet by author Alex Blechman (2021). It reads, “Sci-Fi Author: In my book I invented the Torment Nexus as a cautionary tale. Tech Company: At long last, we have created the Torment Nexus from classic sci-fi novel Don’t Create The Torment Nexus”. The joke, of course, is that tech executives fail to engage with the critical aspect of science fiction—even when it’s staring them in the face. As prolific tech critic and author Cory Doctorow (2024) puts it, “Cyberpunk was a warning, not a suggestion. Please, I beg you, stop building the fucking torment nexus”.
There could be an interesting version of a “metaverse” in the form of a persistent VR networked world people can have effects on, but a “good” version of it would probably look a lot like the open web & fediverse in topology. Which is unlikely to be built by any corporation because it would lack all of the necessary control & finance they need. 🫠