The Metaverse is a virtual world that is breaking down geographic barriers and changing the way people connect with each other. It offers unprecedented convenience and opportunities for social interaction, allowing people to form new and meaningful connections, enhance existing societies, and build new communities based on shared interests. The Metaverse is not just a platform for gaming but a new form of socialization transforming the Metaverse social lifestyle as we know it.

Real Research, an online survey app, launched a survey on how the Metaverse reshapes social lifestyle. The study aims to explore how the Metaverse will provide a better social experience and how people interact and connect with each other. Furthermore, the Metaverse social lifestyle study findings will be analyzed using advanced statistical techniques and reported in a comprehensive research report.

Highlights:

  • 60.62% of surveyees are aware of the concept of the Metaverse.
  • The Metaverse has the ability to bring new forms of communication, say 21.14%
  • 49.82% say the Metaverse will lead to more interaction between people

Impacts of the Metaverse on Social Lifestyle

According to a recent survey conducted by Real Research, which involved over 10,000 respondents, the majority of users hold a positive sentiment towards the Metaverse and believe that it has the potential to influence all areas of life. Specifically, 43.68% of respondents believe that the Metaverse’s impact on social lifestyle is likely to affect our lives, while 40.11% think it is possible.

Only a small percentage (9.34%) think it is unlikely to have an influence, and an even smaller percentage (1.48%) strongly disagrees. However, 5.39% of respondents were unsure of their position on this topic.

Accordingly, our survey found that 60.62% of the respondents are well aware of the concept of the Metaverse, compared to 5.87% who said otherwise. Meanwhile, 33.51% were aware, but only to some extent.

According to the Metaverse social lifestyle survey results, the surveyees expect the Metaverse to impact social life as it continues to evolve significantly. Specifically, 21.41% of respondents anticipate new forms of communication to emerge from the Metaverse, while 15.18% believe that it will enable people to connect globally. Other expected impacts include blurred boundaries between real and virtual life (13.87%), increased accessibility and convenience (13.59%), new social norms and etiquettes (11.16%), and enhanced immersion and presence (9.69%).

These findings suggest that the Metaverse has the potential to transform the way people interact and connect in the near future.

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Figure 1: Respondents’ opinions of the Metaverse changing social interactions

Would the Metaverse Provide a Better Social Experience?

The following poll aimed to determine whether users believe the Metaverse will provide a better social experience than real-life interactions.

The results show that 67.85% of respondents hold a positive view, with 34.42% indicating a high likelihood and 33.43% a moderate likelihood. Meanwhile, 17.7% of respondents consider it somewhat unlikely, and 6.18% deem it highly unlikely to offer a superior social experience. Additionally, 8.27% of respondents remain uncertain about their opinion.

These results indicate that most people have a favorable view of the Metaverse’s potential to offer an enhanced social experience compared to traditional in-person interactions.

Similarly, 49.82% believed that the Metaverse would lead to more interaction between people, 31.73% stated that the Metaverse would have no significant impact on interactions, 11.58% believed the Metaverse would lead to more social isolation, and 6.87% remained unsure.

Reasons Why Individuals May Consider Joining the Metaverse

The survey results revealed that dating is the most significant reason, based on 16.19% of respondents. Following this, 10.19% believe creativity and expression are the main reason, while 9.52% cited gaming as the main motivation. Accessibilities for the disabled was the primary reason for 7.49% of respondents, while 8.78% stated job and work possibilities, 8.23% mentioned art and entertainment, 7.43% cited business opportunities, and 7.12% mentioned education and training.

Lastly, 7.64% stated socializing as the main reason for joining the Metaverse. These results reveal that people join the Metaverse for various reasons, with dating being the most significant motivator.

Reasons-why-people-would-consider-joining-the-Metaverse
Figure 2: Reasons why people would consider joining the Metaverse

Advantages of Metaverse Reshaping Social Lifestyle

There are numerous advantages to the Metaverse for reshaping social lifestyle, and individuals have varying opinions on the most significant benefit.

Out of over 10,000 respondents, 10.63% believe the most crucial advantage is enhanced creativity and imagination. In contrast, another 10.63% see the emergence of new immersive forms of entertainment and leisure as the main benefit. 12.41% think the most significant advantage is the chance to experience diverse adventures, and 11.2% see the possibility of connecting with new people as the most crucial benefit.

Other benefits highlighted in the survey include increased job opportunities (8.21%), increased business opportunities (8.58%), endless prospects of the latest technology in education (8.83%), and increased opportunities for self-expression (8.93%).

Negative Impacts of the Metaverse on Social Lifestyle

Lastly, based on the responses of over 10,000 survey participants, the following were identified as the most commonly cited negative impacts of the Metaverse on social lifestyle:

16.02% believe that the risk of mental health issues due to increased screen time is the most significant negative impact. This is followed by 13.36% of respondents who said that the increased risk of addiction to simulated reality is a concern. 9.48% stated increased vulnerabilities to cyberbullying, 9.32% said the risk of social isolation, and 8.55% mentioned physical issues such as lack of exercise and body pain.

Negative-impacts-of-the-Metaverse-social-lifestyle
Figure 3: Negative impacts of the Metaverse social lifestyle

Additionally, 8.42% believe that the lack of real-life social skills is the most significant negative impact of the Metaverse on social lifestyle. Finally, 8.33% of respondents mentioned the possibility of privacy issues, while 7.19% believed the risk of impersonation was a concern.

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on How the Metaverse Reshapes Social Lifestyle
DurationFebruary 9, 2023 – February 16, 2023
Number of Participants10,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.