The metaverse is still in its infancy, even if large groups already consider it the last playground for new generations. Are they ready to migrate to these virtual universes? Nothing is less certain, according to a US study.
Not a day goes by without a company announcing its entry into the metaverse, an immersive universe that promises to be the next generation of the internet, according to its proponents. Many see it as an opportunity to expand their income while getting closer to the Zs, their preferred target. Investment bank Piper Sandler question 7,100 American teenagers with an average age of 16 are based on their relationship to this emerging sector.
It clearly does not interest them. Half of the respondents said they are unsure or have no intention of purchasing a device to access the metaverse at the moment. Only 9% plan to acquire a virtual reality headset in the coming months. However, all ‘hope’ is not lost: a quarter of respondents (26%) have equipment Dedicated And a third of those teens use it occasionally to explore that virtual world where you can buy a replica of Paris Hilton’s hip bag, for example.
These numbers cast a shadow over the plans of Meta (formerly Facebook) and other companies that have made it their mission to contribute to the rise of metaverses. Mark Zuckerberg’s group recently announced its desire to provide content creators with the ability to sell virtual objects to users of Horizon Worlds, its main augmented reality platform.
Although young Americans don’t show much interest in this technology yet, they can get into it from a video game perspective. 68% of teens surveyed by Piper Sandler describe themselves as Game enthusiastsAn ideal target for companies wanting to invest in the metaverse. If this digital space of the future is still in its infancy, video game players have already given it a certain depth. proof with It is an electronic game Which two years ago hosted virtual parties for international stars such as Travis Scott, Zara Larsson and Ariana Grande. Mega events were followed each time by tens of millions of players.
Cryptocurrency and NFT, two other blockchain-related innovations, could also be gateways to the metaverse, but not for American teens. Only 11% and 8% of young people surveyed by Piper Sandler have purchased non-fungible virtual currencies or tokens, respectively. However, many of them are familiar with these new technologies… and therefore they are likely to take the lead.
