The metaphors we use to describe new technology constrain the way we think about it and, like an outdated map, often lead us astray. The same goes for the metaverse. Some people seem to think of it as a kind of real estate, complete with land grabs and trying to drive traffic to whatever part of the virtual property they’ve created.

Seen through the lens of the real estate metaphor, the metaverse becomes a natural successor not only to Second Life, but also to the World Wide Web and social media, which can be thought of as a set of places (sites) for visit. Virtual reality headsets will make these places more immersive, we imagine.