The Social and Ethical Impacts of the Metaverse on the Younger Generation : Selected Issues in Critical Information Infrastructure, Summer Term 2023

Background: The rapid rise of the "Metaverse" could profoundly influence interpersonal interactions, especially for the younger generation, who are already growing up in a digitally influenced world. This study aims to analyze the social and ethical implications of the Metaverse on youth, addressing both its potential benefits such as enhanced connectivity and creativity, as well as concerns like addiction risks and privacy issues.
Objective: This paper examines the advantages and risks of increased use of the Metaverse for young people. It begins with an overview of existing research, followed by an in-depth analysis of the pros and cons.
Methods: This study outlines a systematic method for reviewing literature on the social and ethical implications of the metaverse for the younger generation. To identify relevant studies and articles an extensive internet search was conducted. Various databases including EBSCO and the Wiley Online Library were used to capture a wide range of scholarly publications. The search strategy combined keywords such as 'metaverse', 'young people', 'youth' and 'adolescents' with specific themes such as education, social interaction and psychological effects. ... mehrFollowing the title and abstract screening, relevant articles were selected and subjected to a thorough full-text analysis, to ensure inclusion of qualitative and thematically relevant research.
Results: Enhanced networking opportunities, from which young people already benefited during the Covid-19 pandemic, are identified as advantages. Visual learning content allows for increased absorption capacity for young people, and personal development is promoted through creative self-expression. Additionally, the Metaverse could become more accessible and inclusive than the real world through the right measures. However, dependency and addiction are identified as health risks for young people. The loss of connection to reality also poses a serious risk. The reduction of social inhibitions, on the other hand, can be both an advantage and a risk. It is necessary to regulate platform operators and establish universal standards for providers to ensure data protection and privacy. It is also concluded that the focus on the younger generation must be deepened while simultaneously examining the impacts on other generations.
Conclusion: This paper provides a basis for the development of appropriate measures to prevent the negative effects of the Metaverse and to optimally utilize the positive aspects. The goal is to enable a safe, transparent, and inclusive future in a digital world for young people.