The concept of metaverses is not new; prior to Facebook’s Meta, there was Fortnite, Roblox, and Second Life. Despite being nearly two decades old, Second Life is still buzzing with user activity daily. One of the problems with creating a metaverse is building communities that feel compelled to stay on the platform. Early on, Second Life’s creators integrated with the community and set its tone, focusing on serendipity, free-form engagement, and creativity. It seems Facebook failed to do the same because Meta is struggling to retain its users. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
