Exploring the Darkverse: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of the Negative Societal Impacts of the Metaverse

TLDR

The Metaverse promises transformative societal change, yet its negative consequences remain largely unexplored. This study seeks to illuminate the Metaverse’s dark side by gathering informed narratives from leading academics across diverse disciplines. It examines a broad spectrum of adverse effects—including technological vulnerability, privacy erosion, identity theft, invasive advertising, misinformation, financial crimes, terrorism, abuse, pornography, social exclusion, mental health impacts, sexual harassment, and unintended consequences—through expert perspectives. The authors synthesize common themes, propose actionable propositions, and outline implications for practice and policy.

Abstract

The Metaverse has the potential to form the next pervasive computing archetype that can transform many aspects of work and life at a societal level. Despite the many forecasted benefits from the metaverse, its negative outcomes have remained relatively unexplored with the majority of views grounded on logical thoughts derived from prior data points linked with similar technologies, somewhat lacking academic and expert perspective. This study responds to the dark side perspectives through informed and multifaceted narratives provided by invited leading academics and experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. The metaverse dark side perspectives covered include: technological and consumer vulnerability, privacy, and diminished reality, human-computer interface, identity theft, invasive advertising, misinformation, propaganda, phishing, financial crimes, terrorist activities, abuse, pornography, social inclusion, mental health, sexual harassment and metaverse-triggered unintended consequences. The paper concludes with a synthesis of common themes, formulating propositions, and presenting implications for practice and policy.