Thread
Metaverse skeptic?
Here's why gen alpha (kids <10) will be the first Metaverse Natives and bring it to life:
- XR hardware adoption will hit critical mass
- Digital identity is taking over IRL identity
- Gen alpha will be the most comfortable yet with digital immersion👇
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Here's why gen alpha (kids <10) will be the first Metaverse Natives and bring it to life:
- XR hardware adoption will hit critical mass
- Digital identity is taking over IRL identity
- Gen alpha will be the most comfortable yet with digital immersion👇
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First, some table setting. If you think “metaverse” means living in VR, you’re wrong.
The metaverse exists when people associate with their digital selves as much or more than their IRL selves
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The metaverse exists when people associate with their digital selves as much or more than their IRL selves
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Why do I care and why do I have an opinion?
I've spent my career making large-scale social games, where digital identities/communities/friendships were the primary drivers of engagement
I also just spent the last 1.5 years at @meta leading the @horizonworlds team
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I've spent my career making large-scale social games, where digital identities/communities/friendships were the primary drivers of engagement
I also just spent the last 1.5 years at @meta leading the @horizonworlds team
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Generation alpha, or generation metaverse - is anyone born after ~2012. The first alpha teens will be minted around 2025
They will be the first gen w/mass access to VR and immersive digital experiences (Roblox, Fortnite)
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They will be the first gen w/mass access to VR and immersive digital experiences (Roblox, Fortnite)
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By the time the first alpha turns 13 in 2026, more than 80M cumulative VR headsets will have been sold (for context, the XBox 360 sold 84M lifetime units)
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This follows an existing trend:
Unlike millenials that grew up in a static internet, gen Z's digital experience was increasingly immersive in the form of video, video games, and streaming
For instance, 48% of gen z has tried VR, 26% own a device, and 5% use it daily
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Unlike millenials that grew up in a static internet, gen Z's digital experience was increasingly immersive in the form of video, video games, and streaming
For instance, 48% of gen z has tried VR, 26% own a device, and 5% use it daily
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If you believe like I do that the metaverse will be UGC/built by everyone and not a tops-down experience, gen alpha will also be the first generation to grow up inside the creator economy
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The metaverse will enable true self-identity - authenticity will come from limitless avatar customizations as well as the digital environments that you own/hang out in
In web2 terms, your avatar will be your profile picture and your metaversal home will be your profile
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In web2 terms, your avatar will be your profile picture and your metaversal home will be your profile
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To solidify this trend towards immersive digital identity, look no further than the rise in VTubing which kickstarted with KizunaAI in 2016 and now has VTubers with millions of followers
In a report from Twitch last month, VTubing viewership grew almost 500% YoY
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In a report from Twitch last month, VTubing viewership grew almost 500% YoY
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Some findings from my experience working in VR (not publicly shareable data):
Young teens are way more comfortable using VR for hours and are also more eager to make friends in fully digital spaces
Don't believe me? Head into any VR social app and find out for yourself
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Young teens are way more comfortable using VR for hours and are also more eager to make friends in fully digital spaces
Don't believe me? Head into any VR social app and find out for yourself
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Additionally, kids are less likely to get motion sick in 3D environments - especially VR
Since their brains are still developing, they're able to adjust to the different 3D reconstruction in front of their eyes
Adults have to learn/adjust to VR. Kids can handle it innately
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Since their brains are still developing, they're able to adjust to the different 3D reconstruction in front of their eyes
Adults have to learn/adjust to VR. Kids can handle it innately
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In short, gen alpha will grow up at the intersection of these key metaversal ingredients:
* Large-scale XR adoption (esp VR)
* Shifts towards immersive digital identity/social
* Digital ownership and immersive commerce
* Continued growth of immersive/games interactivity
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* Large-scale XR adoption (esp VR)
* Shifts towards immersive digital identity/social
* Digital ownership and immersive commerce
* Continued growth of immersive/games interactivity
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As an investor, I'm excited about the budding emergence of what could be next-gen social networks disguised as games:
Gorilla Tag --> 3D @FortniteGame
@VRChat / @recroom --> 3D Omegle
If you're working on the next immersive game+hangout experience, give us a shout!
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Gorilla Tag --> 3D @FortniteGame
@VRChat / @recroom --> 3D Omegle
If you're working on the next immersive game+hangout experience, give us a shout!
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tl;dr It's easy to be a metaverse skeptic right now because we boomers are not the target audience
If/when the "metaverse" happens it will be because of generation alpha, and they'll help build it and define what it means
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If/when the "metaverse" happens it will be because of generation alpha, and they'll help build it and define what it means
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