A plan by the European Union to host a virtual “party” in the metaverse to engage young people in its politics failed spectacularly after just six people showed up.

The EU Commission’s foreign aid department spent £332,000 to create the metaverse where people could log on to a virtual concert to meet people and learn about the bloc.

The event, with its own virtual DJs playing music repeatedly, was supposed to be so digitally appealing to young people that once they were there, the EU could educate them on its development policy.

But a correspondent for Devex, an international development website, exposed the disappointing turnout.

“I am here at the ‘gala’ concert in the metaverse of the EU foreign aid department. After initial bewildered chats with the other five or so…