We're told the metaverse is the future. A boundless expanse of digital possibility. What if that possibility is pre-determined? Imagine if your avatar, your digital identity, went from embodying you to embodying big business, big government and big tech. That would change the very nature of how you might be allowed to communicate online.

Think about it. You carefully craft your avatar. Perhaps you sprout your own wings or scales to transcend your body. You feel empowered. That feeling of power—the ability to make a real difference—is the great illusion. Every action you take and every keystroke you enter is documented forever, laying you bare to risk of exploitation. All at once, those wings seem a lot less like an indicator of freedom and a lot more like a GPS collar.

Even though this control is not yet a reality, we are already seeing the seeds of it being sown. Verification protocols that require verifiable real-world identity to be attached to your digital identity. Algorithmic moderation that silences dissenting voices. Avatar marketplaces that reinforce privileged body types and aesthetics, and marginalize or exclude others. Are we creating a digital utopia, or a digital panopticon?

Who Controls Your Digital DNA?

The University of Birmingham’s research into virtual worlds demonstrates the need to pass a human-centered, as opposed to a tech-centered, approach to development. So what’s the problem when “human-centered” is decided by the few elite? When the algorithms that control our digital lives are programmed with their own biases baked in? What occurs when your avatar gets flagged, shadow-banned, or even deleted entirely because they don’t fit within the established standards?

This is not only an issue of beauty, but of equity and access. Imagine a world where your avatar’s “social credit” score in the metaverse decides your eligibility for employment and schooling. Fundamental amenities could even depend on this digital status. A reputation decided by inscrutable algorithms and the mercurial tastes of corporate masters.

We need to ask: who is being left behind in this digital gold rush? And are we good stewards in the way that we’re building a metaverse that creates new modalities of inclusivity and equity? Or are we merely recreating the inequities of the real world in the digital space?

Forgotten Voices, Amplified or Silenced?

Consider the experiences of marginalized communities. LGBTQ+ people find new ways to connect and express themselves in the avatars. Instead, too often, they are subjected to harassment or censorship for allegedly breaking hazy “community standards.” People with disabilities find unexpected new paths to connection and engagement in the metaverse. Unfortunately, they too frequently experience exclusion from such spaces because of inaccessible interfaces and discriminatory avatar designs. What’s more, users from developing countries are getting priced out of the metaverse economy. Their cultural identities are too often shrouded beneath the overwhelming presence of Western-centric ideologies.

These are the living voices we’ve abandoned that we need to be amplifying. So we need to demand that the metaverse be built with their needs first in mind. This should be a guiding principle, not an add-on.

With the University of Birmingham, we co-organized the UN Citiverse Challenge—a promising first move. Most importantly, it is proof of a new movement to leverage AI and immersive technologies towards social progress. Awareness is not enough. We need concrete action.

  • Accessibility: Inclusive design principles are paramount.
  • Representation: Diverse avatar options are non-negotiable.
  • Data Privacy: User control over personal data is essential.

Virtual Freedom Requires Real Action

We should be demanding transparency from the companies creating the metaverse. Going forward, we need to push for user-centric design and data privacy. We’d do well to fund more research on how these magical, immersive spaces are changing our society for better or worse. And we need to hold our elected officials accountable for ensuring that the metaverse is governed in a way that protects our rights and freedoms.

The metaverse is not just a game. It's a new frontier of human experience. Let’s make sure it doesn’t turn into a digital jail. Let’s work together to ensure that in this future our avatars are marks of empowerment, rather than tools of societal manipulation. In short, let’s not get left behind ourselves, staying in the country of virtual opportunities, while the more vulnerable are virtually stranded. The ethical considerations raised by the University of Birmingham should be central to this discussion.

It's time to ask ourselves: Are we building a metaverse where everyone can thrive, or are we simply creating a new playground for the powerful? The answer to that question will be determined by the decisions we make today.

It's time to ask ourselves: Are we building a metaverse where everyone can thrive, or are we simply creating a new playground for the powerful? The answer depends on the choices we make today.