Virtual society

The concept of 'the metaverse' has recently exploded in the public consciousness. But its contours remain elusive. Is it merely an immersive virtual reality playground, one which Facebook and other platforms will angle to control? Is it simply the next generation of massive multiplayer online games? Or is it something more revolutionary? As Herman Narula shows, the metaverse is actually the latest manifestation of an ancient human tendency - the act of world building.