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The State of the Metaverse: 67 Metaverse Statistics and Trends to Watch in 2022

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As we move further into the 21st century, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the metaverse is here to stay. With technological advances making it easier than ever to create and inhabit virtual worlds, it’s no surprise that this network is growing at an exponential rate, and new metaverse statistics and trends are emerging all the time. 

With over 5 million people using the metaverse regularly and new users joining every day, it’s become increasingly important to understand what’s happening in the virtual world and how users are engaging with the platform. 

To provide a comprehensive overview of current trends and statistics across the metaverse 2022, here are some of the key facts and figures you need to know about the virtual world ecosystem.

Defining the Metaverse

Metaverse graphic showing a man wearing VR goggles
The metaverse is changing the way we interact with each other and experience the world.

A metaverse is a virtual reality world that exists online and can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. It’s a 3D environment where users can create their avatars, interact with others, and explore different virtual spaces.

The term “metaverse” was first coined by Neal Stephenson in his science fiction novel Snow Crash. In the book, the metaverse is a shared virtual reality world where people can meet, socialize, and do business. The concept has since been popularized by other works of fiction, such as the Matrix trilogy and Ready Player One.

While the metaverse is still mostly fictional at this point, there are now some elements of it that already exist in the real world. For example, Second Life is a popular online virtual world that allows users to create their avatars and interact with others in a 3D environment.

The Current State of the Metaverse

You may ask: how popular will the metaverse be? Here are the top statistics surrounding this virtual community: 

  • Metaverse received more than 84,000 mentions on social media in 2021. 
  • When it comes to purchases, there’s already more than $500 million worth of real estate purchases in the metaverse.  
  • If you’re wondering, how many people are currently using metaverse, there are over 400 million metaverse active users per month. 
  • 74% of adults in the United Stats are considering joining the metaverse.
  • When it comes to age, 51% of the metaverse users 2022 are 13 years old or younger.
  • By 2026, experts predict that 25% of users will spend an hour or more in the metaverse every day. 
  • Regarding investments, the majority of metaverse users are willing to spend up to $1,000 on advanced virtual reality gears.
  • Meanwhile, 53% of businesses investing in this virtual world invest in cryptocurrencies. Next to crypto are NFTs (44%), remote work (40%), and branding and positioning (30%). 
  • The biggest virtual community in the metaverse is Roblox. 

Predicted Growth of the Metaverse

Wearing VR goggles
The metaverse is becoming increasingly popular.

How you ever wondered how big is the metaverse market? Is the metaverse growing—yes! and here are data and facts that prove it:

  • The metaverse market size 2022 is over $38 billion.
  • By 2024, the metaverse market value is anticipated to be worth $800 billion. 
  • Moreover, the metaverse will be worth between $8 trillion and $30 trillion.
  • Facebook’s metaverse is expected to generate over $3 billion by the end of 2022. 
  • As for companies, the market cap of the Web 2.0 metaverse was reportedly worth almost $15 trillion in 2021. 
  • Metaverse is expected to be a trillion-dollar revenue opportunity for businesses in the coming years. 
  • With this, the metaverse market is projected to grow about 13% each year. 

Metaverse Statistics on Economy

The metaverse economy is a rapidly growing and highly lucrative market. This is due in part to the increasing popularity of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology.

  • According to recent reports by Forbes, the top three genres in the metaverse economy are gaming, social media, and shopping.
  • For the real estate market, Sandbox is the largest player in the metaverse.
  • A digital Gucci bag was sold for over $4,000 on Roblox.
  • Moreover, KIRKBI and Sony each invested $1 billion in Epic Games to support its projects in the network.
  • Christie’s sold the first-ever digital-only artwork on the metaverse in 2021. It was worth $69.4 million. 
  • On the other hand, the AI economy is expected to reach $15 trillion in GDP growth by 2030. 
  • As for Facebook, it created 10,000 jobs for the metaverse alone. 
  • Video game developers, on the other hand, have over $400 billion in revenue opportunities in the metaverse network. 
  • The biggest virtual property sale value in the network is $2.4 million. 
  • Meanwhile, the metaverse’s average virtual land sale value is around $2,000. 
  • In its inception, the metaverse has lost over $20 billion to investments in Reality Labs. 

Metaverse Statistics on Awareness and Adoption

Graphic showing a man wearing VR goggles
The metaverse can be used to improve our lives and can be adopted on a global scale.

While the metaverse is still in its early stages of development, new research suggests that awareness and adoption of this technology are growing rapidly.

  • As per a McKinsey study, nearly 60% of people surveyed were aware of the term “metaverse” and its definition. 
  • Furthermore, almost half of those surveyed said they believed the metaverse would be an important part of our lives in the future. 
  • When asked about their willingness to use or participate in the metaverse, over 70% said they were interested in doing so.
  • However, when it comes to registration, only 13.2% of metaverse monthly active users can legally register on a blockchain-based virtual community. 
  • On another note, 27 mobile applications added the word “metaverse” to their name in January 2022. 
  • 60% of American gamers participate in non-gaming events or activities within video games. 
  • Regarding Roblox, American rapper Lil Nas X’s performance on the platform gained 33 million views in just two days. 
  • Furthermore, Roblox accumulated more than 11 billion hours worth of user engagement in the first quarter of 2022. 
  • Facebook-wise, 68% of American adults aren’t interested in the social media platform’s metaverse. 

Metaverse Trend Statistics

There are many reasons for the trend in the metaverse, including the increasing popularity of gaming and the desire for social interaction without leaving home. This trend is expected to continue, with more people using this virtual world for work, play, entertainment, and shopping. 

  • In 2020, Travis Scott hosted a concert with 12.3 million live viewers inside the Epic Game metaverse.
  • Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg’s “Snoopverse” gained $14 million in revenue on its first day.
  • More than 10 million players saw Marshmello perform live in a Fortnite concert. 
  • As for Epic Games, the company has raised $1 billion for its metaverse plans. 
  • Facebook is also investing $10 billion in its metaverse. 
  • On another note, 38% of users would only try extreme sports in the metaverse. 
  • IMVU users spend about $7 million each month on digital goods.
  • Meanwhile, 27% of internet users in the US want to try AR/VR before purchasing clothes. 
  • 16% of American adults “strongly agree” that life would be so much better and more fun in the metaverse than in real life. 
  • Moreover, 70% of gamers anticipate in-game social interactions to make them play harder. 

Companies in the Metaverse

Graphic showing a man wearing VR goggles
In the metaverse, companies are starting to take root and establish themselves.

As the world increasingly moves online, many companies are finding new ways to operate in the digital space. Aside from reaching a global audience of potential customers with ease, the platform also provides a safe and secure space for companies to conduct business transactions.

  • Gucci captivated 19 million visitors with its very own Gucci Garden within the Roblox metaverse.
  • On the other hand, JP Morgan Chase bought land with The Sandbox. This land is aimed to “create innovative brand experiences” for the company’s future customers. 
  • Acura was the first to make a virtual car showroom in Decentraland. 
  • Meanwhile, Nike launched “Nikeland,” a space in Roblox to socialize, play games, and dress your avatars in digital Nike goods. 
  • Dolce & Gabanna formulated a Nine-piece collection of NFTs sold apace with its couture in the real world.
  • On the other hand, Walmart is planning to offer NFTs and virtual currencies. 
  • Regarding NFTs, Pepenopoulos is the most expensive NFT sold on the metaverse auction by Sotheby. 
  • Sony’s investment share on the metaverse is $200 million. 
  • Meanwhile, Microsoft secured a $22 billion contract for the release of mixed reality technology. 
  • Supersocial raised over $5 million to develop games on the Roblox platform. 

Downsides of Metaverse

The metaverse is a hot topic these days, with many people touting its potential as the next big thing in the digital world. However, there are also some downsides to this new virtual reality that everyone should be aware of before diving in headfirst.

  • The metaverse can be a bit overwhelming for newcomers. It can take some time to get used to the sights and sounds of this digital world, and even longer to figure out how to navigate it effectively. 
  • Of 10,000 Cryptopunk avatars that make up the metaverse, mid to dark-toned ones traded lower than lighter-skinned ones. 
  • 23% of adults in the United States want to become a different person from their real self because of the metaverse. 
  • Meanwhile, only a meager 28% foresee educational opportunities in the virtual world. 
  • Keeping the metaverse running and mining bitcoins consumes more energy than Belgium annually.
  • Meanwhile, 14% of metaverse users would engage in hate speech in the network. 
  • Regarding the existence of Meta on the metaverse, almost one-third of American adults are “very unfavorable” of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.  

Implications of the Metaverse for Society

It has been suggested that the metaverse could have far-reaching implications for society, including the development of new ways of interacting and communicating. This network could also have a significant impact on how we currently think about privacy and identity.

Social Media in the Metaverse

In theory, metaverse could be a powerful tool for social media because it would allow users to create custom avatars and environments to communicate and share content. However, there are still many unknowns about the implications of metaverse for social media. 

For example, will users feel more connected when they’re able to create personalized worlds? Or will it just become another form of online entertainment? Additionally, how will metaverse be used by businesses? Will they use it to communicate with customers or employees? 

The answers to these questions remain unclear, but metaverse has the potential to revolutionize social media. This is extremely easy with the aid of social media management tools like the one in this SharedCount review

Business in the Metaverse

Metaverse could have a significant impact on the way businesses operate, as it offers the potential for new and more efficient ways of communicating, collaborating, and trading. For example, metaverse could be used to create customized online stores for customers or allow employees to work from anywhere in the world. 

In addition, metaverse could be used to host corporate training courses or provide customers with access to products and services outside of normal business hours. As this network grows in popularity and becomes more accessible, businesses will need to consider how it can be best utilized.

If you want to easily gather potential leads and increase sales in the metaverse, use an online management tool like the one in this Onlypult review

Education in the Metaverse

The current paradigm for education is based on the assumption that students learn in a traditional classroom setting with a teacher. However, this model is becoming obsolete as more students are taking advantage of online learning opportunities. 

Metaverse is a new concept that could provide an innovative solution to the problem of how to best educate students in the 21st century. It’s a digital world that exists inside of computers and smartphones. 

The most important benefit of using metaverse for education is it can allow teachers to personalize their lessons for each student.

Crime in the Metaverse

Metaverse could be used to commit crimes without repercussion. In a study published in Springer, a researcher from Singapore University of Social Sciences investigated the possibility of using metaverse to commit financial fraud. 

The study found that due to the virtual nature of the metaverse, financial institutions would be unable to identify or track the perpetrators. This has serious implications for cybercrime investigations—if criminals can evade detection and punishment by using metaverse technology, it’ll become increasingly difficult to police online activity.

Summary & Takeaways on Metaverse Statistics

Elements of metaverse graphic
The different elements that make up a metaverse. | Source: Luisa Zhou

The metaverse is still in its early stages, but there are many important statistics and trends to watch out for as it continues to grow. Developers are working on new applications and platforms, and the market for virtual goods and services is expanding rapidly. 

There’s also increasing interest in using the metaverse to support social interaction and education. As the metaverse grows, so too will the opportunities for businesses and users alike.

Read this article to learn how to elevate your business in the metaverse network: “How To Leverage Metaverse Marketing Strategies (With Examples).”

Sources:

forbes.com

mckinsey.com

researchgate.net

banklesstimes.com

luisazhou.com

soocial.com

influencermarketinghub.com

thesmallbusinessblog.net

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