Search data reveals absolutely no one understands the metaverse

An estimated 2.62 million searches for the term ‘metaverse’ were made in October. This is primarily down to Facebook announcing that they’re changing their company name from Facebook to Meta after 17 years of operating under the alias. As a result, the name change has put a focus on a whole new future; the metaverse. And no one knows what it is.

Looking at search trends data, digital marketing agency, MRS Digital, revealed how confused everyone is by the metaverse, and why Google isn’t helping anyone figure it out. With a range of featured snippets (the Google search excerpts at the top of a page) that differ from one to the next, the ambition of the metaverse is already proving to be its biggest demise.

The main reason for the confusion is simple – there isn’t a complete metaverse yet and because of this, no one knows what to expect or how functional it’s going to be. There is potential for a whole new economy, way of working, and a significant shift in consumer interests. Whether it’s building a to scale replica of your hometown in Minecraft or going to virtual concerts in Fortnite, the metaverse is only starting to rear its head.

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With an infographic, the most common questions on Google have been highlighted to show that amongst all the metaverse noise, only a handful of the 2.62 million people really know about how the future looks.

When looking at searches surrounding the metaverse, numerous threads of questioning arise, sparking interest in games such as Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft which are all considered to be emerging examples of metaverses, however the reason for this differs per game.

Alongside the curiosity of video games, cryptocurrencies, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and VR (virtual reality) all saw increases in search interest. Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange platform, saw a 50% increase in search interest when Facebook announced the change to their company name. While some internet users are still trying to figure out exactly what the metaverse is, some users are seeing it as an opportunity to lay foundations for making real money from virtual currencies.

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The commonly asked question ‘what are metaverse coins?’ has a simple answer; they’re nothing, because the metaverse doesn’t exist. What does exist though are early iterations of what a metaverse has the potential to become one day, supported by the in-game currencies that allow users to buy new items such as outfits, avatars, and even weapons.

So now everyone knows that no one knows what a metaverse is and that Meta are planning on joining the metaverse race, an exciting and unpredictable future for technology is on the horizon. Just don’t be afraid to ask what it is.