Can the Metaverse Create Digital Dangers?

Stating that the metaverse, one of the most talked-about and curious fields of recent days, offers a very wide range of options from virtual concerts to digital games, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan points out the importance of preparing in this field and taking precautions against possible risks. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noting that risks such as addiction, loneliness, and obesity particularly await young people in the “beyond-universe” world, where there will be a wide range of options for digital games and virtual shopping, emphasizes that precautions must be taken now. Tarhan also states that the digital generation must be understood, warning, “We have started to see the negative consequences of our traditional methods and culture of obedience. We have started to see an epidemic of suicide among young people.”

Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made an assessment regarding the metaverse, which has been on the agenda recently, and young people's interest in this field.

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the concept of metaverse is currently on the agenda and that Facebook's name was changed to Meta after the announcement by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “Meta means 'beyond', and 'verse' means 'universe'. Metaverse, therefore, means 'beyond the universe'. There is something not widely spoken about here. Because it is closely related to the psychological dimension of the matter, they are trying to present this Metaverse as a 'Divine universe'. In other words, it is currently accepted as a New God because the owner of this place will be able to control everything,” he said.

A Virtual Universe is Being Created

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the Metaverse has become very attractive currently, and everyone has recently started buying land there. “A virtual universe is being created. Its use in the sense of 'beyond the universe' stems from this: Currently, there is physical reality, that is, the physical world, the world we live in. Now, a virtual reality has been created. The third is science fiction. There are science fiction games. These games currently have 350 million players. These games combine those three technologies and somehow offer a virtual paradise. Everyone will be able to write and create their own paradise within a science fiction environment, create their holographic avatar in 3D, and with this avatar, enter that universe with their avatar friend, wander the streets there, and enter games. After leaving there, they will go to a restaurant with their avatar friend and eat. Of course, all of this will be entirely within virtual reality,” he said.

Is the World Being Othered?

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that Facebook announced a $10 billion investment in this area. “This investment also shows the seriousness of the matter. They will hire 10,000 people, but interestingly, they will only hire from European Union members. This means a new sphere of dominance has emerged in the world.

Hiring employees only from the European Union also reveals that this is something that 'others' the rest of the world. We see the elitist and orientalist mentality reflected here exactly. Even in the virtual world, they immediately started with discrimination,” he said.

However, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that two-thirds of Silicon Valley's workforce is foreign, with the majority being from India and Asia. “This situation is a sign of a new polarization in the world. In such a virtual world, in a commercial environment, customers will be found from all over the world, but the owners will be white Americans. Here we see white racism,” he said.

The “Beyond Universe” New World Will Enable Teleportation

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that all plots of land on the Bosphorus are being sold with NFTs. “All digital assets are being sold. Actually, the idea is good. This idea will allow people to teleport in their lives. That is, you will be able to teleport for a job simultaneously. Just as 30 people hold a meeting simultaneously via video, when you wear virtual reality glasses, it will be possible to converse with the person you want to talk to as if you are in a conference hall, right where you are. Since it is holographic, you will be able to enter conferences with 3D avatars. For example, Tarkan will give a concert with his avatar, and you will immediately go there with your avatar. For instance, American rapper Travis Scott gave a concert to 12 million people, and 12 million people watched it. 12 million people come to the concert, and the artist's avatar speaks. It is very appealing, highly effective, but it contains extremely dangerous dimensions, and attention must be paid to that,” he said.

There is a Consent-Based Imperialism

Emphasizing that instead of opposing new areas like the Metaverse, efforts should be made to make this world more just, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Currently, there is a voluntary imperialism. That is, it is called consent-based imperialism. They obtain people's consent, and they are voluntarily exploited. Attention must be paid to this.” Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan warned to be cautious, stating that a false paradise might also be offered to people within a virtual reality.

Historian and Author Harari Proved Right

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that historian and author Yuval Noah Harari was very right when he warned at the 2018 Davos Summit about a data-centric dystopia in the near future for humanity, signaling a move towards digital dictatorship. “We are currently at the peak of the internet. An environment where the internet and digital reality are used is a good thing. This is also something scientific and inevitable. Therefore, in such a situation, the rest of the world must unite. Only 10,000 people will be hired, and they are all European Union members. What does this mean? It means a serious polarization is beginning in the world,” he said.

R&D Studies are Needed Regarding the Metaverse

Noting that precautions should be taken against this danger of polarization, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Here, we need to rapidly focus on R&D related to this technology. Of course, let's invest in defense, but there won't be a greater security problem than this. Young people working in the defense industry are going abroad, fleeing. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in such a platform and its alternative.  If necessary, Turkey should unite with global superpowers to create such a platform. Actually, this is not difficult at all; there are already super young people working, if we could keep them here, we would have achieved many things,” he said.

Precautions Should Also Be Taken Against Evils in the Virtual Universe

Noting that evil can also find a place in the virtual universe, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “As long as there is ambition, greed, and insatiability in humans, evil will not end. There is a dark part in humans, and this dark part will also manifest itself there. But in such a situation, let's not lose touch with reality. Western civilization has a disease, the disease of pleasure-seeking, hedonism. They see this hedonism as the purpose of life. This is a new version of hedonism. Young people are especially at great risk because they obtain many things easily,” he warned.

A New Area in Game Addiction

 Noting that there are many different options in the universe called Metaverse, from buying land to games, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan drew attention to the fact that this situation carries new risks related to game addiction. Tarhan said, “We are heading towards such a world. There are big gaming companies involved in this. We suffer greatly from gaming addiction among young people; there are problems like school refusal. In such a situation, a new area of game addiction is emerging. Shopping in this virtual world will be done with cryptocurrencies and bitcoins,” he said.

How Can the Metaverse Be Used for the Benefit of Humanity?

Stating that precautions must be taken regarding this new universe, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “While having fun in this virtual world, we will also have one foot in reality. It's a beautiful version of the world of imagination and science fiction, but how should we use it for the benefit of humanity? We need to think about this. We haven't come to this life just for entertainment. The purpose of life is not just to live, eat, drink, and reproduce. If so, we become the same as primitive creatures. What distinguishes humans is purpose, thinking about death, reality after death, and life. Thinking only terrestrially cannot make a person happy. The Metaverse cannot serve human happiness,” he said.

Young People's Need for Purpose and Meaning Must Be Met…

Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan warned that young people are most at risk in the beyond-universe world. “Young people are in the risk group here because youth is seriously a digital generation. Since it is a digital generation, we cannot understand it. The digital generation is fond of freedom, it wants freedom. We have started to see the bad consequences of our traditional methods and culture of obedience. We have started to see an epidemic of suicide among young people. The suicide epidemic here is different from that in Northern Europe. With our habits of obedience culture, we want our child to say 'yes sir', not to question, not to think, but to obey. However, youth obeys if they ask, think, and are convinced. We cannot teach good, right, and beautiful without convincing young people. We need to explain to them with reasons. The biggest problem for young people right now is a lack of purpose. Because they don't have purposes in life for which they will labor, get tired, and suffer, young people are prone to follow whatever is shown to them. Unless the young people's need for purpose and meaning is met, it is difficult for them to find the truth and plan their lives,” he said.

Loneliness and Obesity Await Humanity

Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noted that if used for good purposes, the Metaverse could simplify life and accelerate business and economic life. “It cannot increase social mobility, but it can increase digital mobility. People will become more obese because they can handle everything in their imagination. People will be lonelier. Loneliness awaits, obesity awaits humanity. Consequently, many new types of diseases will emerge. It is very important to consider all of these with their pros and cons. We must be vigilant against the European, American project. Virtual reality is currently used in treatments. Technology serves good if used for good purposes, and evil if used for bad purposes. Instead of being against technology, we need to think about how to use it in line with our ideals,” he said.