Meh on the Metaverse: How Americans Feel About Virtual Worlds

Americans have a lukewarm attitude towards the metaverse/virtual worlds, according to research from Ipsos. 39% of respondents don't find the metaverse personally interesting, and only 19% think it will enable them to do new things. Younger Americans tend to be more interested in participating in activities in virtual worlds such as virtual entertainment, connecting with friends and family, and learning a personal or work skill.

The survey was conducted between June 30 and July 1, 2022, among 1,120 US adults. 25% believe the metaverse is primarily for gamers, 22% view it as a risk to their privacy, and 20% think it is just a lot of hype. The majority of US adults say they are not interested in doing things in the metaverse such as attending meetings, playing games with strangers, going shopping, watching shows or movies, or traveling to new cities.

Younger Americans are more likely than older Americans to view activities such as buying virtual art and buying virtual land as "brilliant." Additionally, more than a third of Gen Z and Millennial respondents express interest in virtual entertainment experiences and in connecting with friends and family virtually.