BERLIN: People concerned about their data have for years had to think carefully about matters such as social media app settings and internet browser cookies, as well as increasingly sophisticated email-based phishing scams. In the wake of mounting research confirming the mental health harm of social media, the university's researchers are now calling for investigations into the impact of the metaverse on society and how the companies behind these platforms operate. "Privacy, data collection, especially of personal data and biometric data, and the harm online platforms can cause, are all issues of concern to the public," the university’s team warned. Proponents believe the metaverse will ultimately replace the current internet with a 3D space accessed by headset, offering virtual concerts, meeting rooms and collective gaming. However researchers say their focus groups showed many of the online harms experienced in current internet and social media environments will transfer to the metaverse and proliferate there.

Source: The Star December 03, 2023 14:55 UTC