From Pixels to Planet: Toward Sustainable Practices in the Metaverse

Abstract

Development has two sides: it creates solutions for the now while losing sight of the future. It is progressive and motivated by the need for time. Numerous historical examples, such as the Industrial Revolution, support this claim. Technological innovation is currently needed for sustainable development; thus, anytime a new technological advancement is made, a critical social discussion is sparked to determine both the advantages and disadvantages of innovation for sustainable development. The newest and most talked-about innovation, called the metaverse, is still in its infancy and combines the ideas of many people. Discourse analysis on "sustainability and metaverse" was employed in this study to gather various viewpoints and carry out exploratory research. Through thematic content analysis, various themes were identified and categorized into two groups, highlighting the “metaverse as a solution” and “metaverse as a problem.” Making this technological innovation a solution will require built-in sustainability within and outside the metaverse. Creating a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse metaverse can be achieved through re-imagination and transforming the collaborative workspace by putting sustainability first. Building sustainability into the front end of the virtual world rather than retrofitting it after exponential growth.