Behavioral professionals attempting to follow the rapid escalation of digital options for clinical work can easily be confused by the terms Meta and Metaverse. The evolving technological landscape marked by Facebook’s rebranding to Meta compared to the burgeoning Metaverse concept warrants a nuanced evaluation with an eye toward appropriateness for behavioral interventions, as the two terms are easily and incorrectly interchanged.
Differences between Facebook’s Meta & the Metaverse
Issues for behavioral health center around using such digital platforms for client or patient contact or care, especially concerning privacy and ethical considerations.
In essence, Meta is a company, the parent company of Facebook.
The Metaverse is a concept that refers to a comprehensive, immersive virtual domain, often anchored by the internet and encompassing an array of digital innovations intended to mimic the tactile essence of the physical world in the virtual world.
The article below draws further parallels and distinctions to help the behavioral professional distinguish between the two separate concepts and their associated entities.
Facebook’s Meta: A Proprietary Realm within the Virtual Universe
In October of 2021, Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta as his renamed parent company, intended to bring together all the Facebook apps and products under one brand. Meta, as a company, was designated as his central company whose focus was on bringing the Metaverse to life, helping people connect, find communities, and grow their businesses.
Corporate Ambitions
Facebook’s transition to the new name of Meta signified its strategic focus on creating a branded space within the broader context of the As a commercial venture, centralized corporate policies and business objectives intrinsically govern Meta.
Privacy Constraints
Facebook’s Meta has a proprietary, centralized architecture, which poses a challenge for telehealth services that require uniformity and compliance, particularly regarding regulatory issues (Tanveer, Ali, & Azim, 2023). Conversely, Given its proprietary nature, Facebook’s Meta will likely adhere to Facebook’s data collection and privacy protocols.
Just last week, Telehealth.org alerted readers to the 41 Facebook lawsuits currently underway, wherein numerous parties are accusing Facebook of exploiting youth, harming their mental health, and compromising their privacy. Moreover, there is a long history of Facebook’s legal battles concerning privacy in healthcare, which raises concerns about professionals using this site for client or patient interactions.
The Metaverse: A Shared Online World
What is Metaverseerse?
The Metaverse is a digital space where people can interact using avatars, similar to interacting in a video game. Unlike traditional video games, the Metaverse aims to be a place where many different online worlds can connect. It’s not controlled by a single company but is intended to be a community-driven space where everyone can join. Access is easy, given the wide variety of tutorials to instruct users by simply searching for “How to access the metaverse.” The issues for behavioral professionals, however, involve privacy, cybersecurity, and efficacy.
Early adopters of this technology may recognize one of the originators of the concept, Second Life. The company and its platform still exist, but it does not offer the many protections needed for psychotherapy.
Metaverse Privacy
The Metaverse offers opportunities for customization, albeit with risks of variable
