As far as I can tell, the metaverse is a medium. Much like web forums, social networks, different genres of video games (FPS, RTS, block-builders, etc), television, radio, and books.
In the social network space, Facebook created a monopoly by buying up their competition until they became inescapable in most countries via the network effect. As a result, Facebook effectively holds a monopoly on social media to this day. They squat on that monopoly and extract value through ads, keeping anyone else from meaningfully competing, like some kind of medieval bridge troll.
In the metaverse space, Facebook wants to create the first viable product so they can extend their trolling and rent seeking to that medium as well. If they can absorb competitors, I think they have a chance. If the US government meaningfully enforces anti-trust law, I don't see any way that such a soulless, awful company that routinely churns out unpleasant products can possibly attract enough users to establish and maintain a monopoly. It seems that Zuck is betting that they can build the tech first, patent the shit out of it, and the users will have no choice but to play in his walled metaverse garden. I suspect folks will opt out before they do that.
In the social network space, Facebook created a monopoly by buying up their competition until they became inescapable in most countries via the network effect. As a result, Facebook effectively holds a monopoly on social media to this day. They squat on that monopoly and extract value through ads, keeping anyone else from meaningfully competing, like some kind of medieval bridge troll.
In the metaverse space, Facebook wants to create the first viable product so they can extend their trolling and rent seeking to that medium as well. If they can absorb competitors, I think they have a chance. If the US government meaningfully enforces anti-trust law, I don't see any way that such a soulless, awful company that routinely churns out unpleasant products can possibly attract enough users to establish and maintain a monopoly. It seems that Zuck is betting that they can build the tech first, patent the shit out of it, and the users will have no choice but to play in his walled metaverse garden. I suspect folks will opt out before they do that.