Our citizens are bombarded with various devices, forms of entertainment, and online platforms vying for their attention. This, coupled with notably low interest in civic engagement from younger Americans, means that municipalities need to find new ways to engage their communities.
What if cities could make it easier for citizens to find civic resources on their devices? Enter the metaverse.
Originally coined in the 1992 science fiction novel “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson, the metaverse now includes everything from virtual meeting rooms to augmented reality where citizens can interact with businesses in a digital world. These technologies can provide new avenues for connecting with citizens, offering information, and encouraging community participation.
Understanding the Metaverse
So, what exactly is the metaverse? While companies such as Mark Zuckerberg’s use “Meta” in the brand name, the metaverse extends to numerous technology platforms and functions. The root of the word is “meta” meaning “transcending” and “universe.” The name is derived from an evolving concept that refers to interconnected virtual spaces where people can interact, work, play, and engage in various activities. While often associated with virtual reality headsets, it's important to note that a headset is not required to access many metaverse platforms.
Like many technologies in current everyday applications, the metaverse gained popularity in gaming. Platforms like Decentraland, Second Life and Roblox are gaming platforms that have evolved to feature luxury shopping experiences, music performances by artists like Lil Nas X, and virtual worlds based on decentralized crypto technology. The same capabilities that power these unique virtual experiences can be utilized by local governments to foster deeper relationships with citizens and connect with visitors.
Cities around the world are already using the metaverse to engage constituents. According to the ABI Research firm, by 2030, nearly 700 cities will feature some kind of metaverse infrastructure.
For example, in Santa Monica, CA, users with the FlickPlay app could explore the city’s downtown and collect tokens through an augmented reality app as they visited shops and events.
In South Korea, the Seoul Metropolitan Government released Metaverse Seoul, an augmented reality app that allows users to find public services 24/7, visit the mayor’s virtual office, and access the Seoul Fintech Lab and Seoul Business Support Center. Additionally, users can file civil complaints, pay local taxes, and get official documents issued.
In 2023, the European Union (EU) launched the development of the CitiVerse, where EU governments can explore metaverse digital twins to offer community services, develop tourism, facilitate urban planning, manage infrastructure and improve security for such services. Like-minded governments like these collaborating on metaverse developments opens the pathway for greater innovation and shared insights that can improve their features.
Connective partner, Tampere, Finland, has been on the forefront of developing digital twin technologies both with physical environment (built and non-built) as well as human digital twins. They have engaged in EU Cityverse calls with Rotterdam and Istanbul and companies like Nokia to build use cases for how mixed reality can improve the lives of their citizens.
Teppo Rantanen, Executive Director of Tampere (and a leader in metaverse and digital twin technology) believes this will ultimately improve the way cities are serving their citizens and also bring more efficient ways of doing so.
“Predictive services, new user interfaces especially for those who have difficulties with technology, and new innovations will make this happen,” he said.
Our challenge is to adapt these immersive digital experiences to transform communities and city centers, giving public servants and citizens alike the ability to interact, engage and participate more intimately.
The Metaverse as a Virtual Town Hall & MORE
In cities, the use of the metaverse is still nascent, and we are only scratching the surface of its potential. The metaverse isn't just meant to augment a city's current web presence; it requires rethinking the entire model of engagement to fully leverage its capabilities.
This isn’t about building a better web experience; it’s about creating a more personal digital experience for citizens. They can create digital avatars, interact with other users, and walk around online worlds to learn information and participate in city activities.
These capabilities translate to town hall formats and beyond, extending to valuable city services that can service all citizens and help young adults become more engaged. Some metaverse applications for community leaders to consider include:
Access to city services and information: Give metaverse participants easy access to services they’re interested in, such as transportation information, free resources, library locations, mental health helplines, and other helpful tools.
Tourism and economic development: Spotlight local businesses, events, and organizations. Offer metaverse-specific promotions and coupons. Provide local businesses with a virtual e-commerce store.
Urban planning: City planners can use the metaverse to explore digital twin cities and virtual worlds for urban development projects. Citizens can explore these digital twins to learn more about city features and provide suggestions directly to urban planners.
Citizen engagement: City leaders can connect with technology-savvy constituents in the metaverse, where citizens can send questions and feedback directly to their representatives. City leaders can use the metaverse to update constituents on initiative progress and deliver feedback in real-time.
Virtual city events: City leaders can hold virtual town halls and community events, from concerts to special local shopping days, in the metaverse. Constituents can participate live with other community members in an engaging metaverse environment.
More importantly, the metaverse enables an “always-on” town hall, a place where community members can continually collaborate from the comfort and safety of wherever they happen to be. Instead of sparsely attended community workshops, imagine a vibrant virtual space where citizens actively participate in interactive workshops and engage in discussions in virtual conversation areas. This makes civic engagement more accessible and appealing, transforming vacant conference rooms into bustling digital hubs of activity and innovation.
Challenges and Considerations of the Metaverse
Like any new technology, there are challenges to consider including protecting the personal data of constituents and local governments. Local leaders who are interested in using the metaverse should consider challenges like the following:
Ensuring inclusive access: Because the metaverse is built on and relies on technology, governments that put services in the metaverse must also ensure those who don’t have access to the metaverse, or who prefer not to use it, still have access to the same quality of government services elsewhere.
Cybersecurity and keeping users and their data safe: Metaverse regulation must also include cybersecurity and protecting personal identifying and financial data, as well as government data. If there are internet of things (IoT) sensors placed throughout a city that connect to digital twins in metaverse worlds, those also must be protected from bad actors. IoT devices are an attractive target for cybercriminals.
Regulation and governance: Research has found users, particularly women and minorities, experience abuse in virtual and augmented reality worlds as more traumatic than in other digital worlds. Metaverse facilitators must consider policies that prevent and address online harassment, discrimination and violence in virtual worlds.
Marketing and adoption strategies: Local officials will need to consider how to promote metaverse capabilities through marketing efforts and should evaluate the need for educational resources, such as webinars, to encourage adoption and use.
Implementing the metaverse will also require training for government officials, so they can maximize its capabilities and ensure they’re reaching constituents promptly. Close collaboration among cybersecurity experts, user experience designers and customer service experts can help ensure the metaverse experience is positive for citizens and government officials alike.
The Metaverse Can Increase Local Government Effectiveness
We are entering a new era of civic engagement, where the metaverse presents an unparalleled opportunity for cities to lead the way. The metaverse can complement what
local governments are already doing to engage constituents and visitors, transforming how they connect and interact. This technology can significantly enhance local tools for increasing civic engagement, ultimately improving the connectedness and quality of life for citizens.
The metaverse can help bolster education, promote tourism, and make cities more welcoming for visitors. As global cities embrace metaverse technology, it becomes evident that this innovation can make local governments more accessible, giving community members greater access to valuable resources.
At The Connective, we are excited about the potential of the metaverse to positively impact our region.
In a world where our citizens are inundated with digital distractions, the metaverse offers a compelling way to cut through the noise and foster deeper civic engagement. This is a chance for cities to lead in creating more engaged, informed, and connected communities.
Stay informed and involved with The Connective’s initiatives in civic innovation. Connect with us today.