Olivia Francisco

Hi Olivia,
I am still aware of all the capabilities meta has to offer to both the consutmer base and businesses. The most I know about Meta is 3D aversion. That is virtual reality in 3D. Companies like ray-ban had been using virtual realities that allowed customers to try their products from their homes. However, including human interface with their VR experiences will mean adding more electronic gadgets to our bags. For humans to join and experience the metaverse may require VR headsets, AR glasses, and haptics. Apple is in talks to be a big player in VR gear with VR manufacturing. Apple product pricing is no news, so before brands involve in meta and their VR they need to asses if their audience is ready to invest in products to experience their brands.

Hi Olivia!
Great post. Got me thinking because I don’t know too much about the metaverse but one question that popped in my head was if all companies that create a metaverse would somehow be connected or are they all separate and a person can’t cross over? This question came up after I thought how many people are actually in the metaverse. There are approximately 83.7 million Americans using augmented reality every month according to increditools.com. That’s a lot of people and that’s just in the U.S. This technology is becoming super important. Eventually everyone at some point will try the metaverse. I can see why companies want to take part of this because it’s different and unique.

I for one cannot wrap my head around the metaverse. My roommate has the oculus and while it may be fun for an hour or too, I do not see the amazement behind it? Am I wrong? Am I just an old man yelling at the younger generations weird and wild ways? It’s quite possible. But for one, I feel as if there has to be more that I am not seeing because for now, it does not seem like the hype around it is real. For one, I could see the increase in games being more fun, like the idea that you are in the game a la Tron. Or maybe one can be put in military situations, or police officers diffusing a bomb, or maybe even a surgeon practicing surgeries. Maybe I can see the hype around this metaverse if these situations can be recreated in such a realm. But for now, I believe we are stuck in the preliminary stages of this technology, where it does not seem to be fun, nor educational!

Hi Olivia,

Great post about the Metaverse! I know what the metaverse is, and I am familiar with because of the brand name before it was Meta, Facebook. That is truly the only reason I know about Meta. However, I have no idea what it entails. If someone were to ask me what the ‘metaverse’ is, I would of described something similar to a MySIms situation. That’s what the metaverse is to me. I would have to be one of those customers that will need to be educated on it I think there will be limitations to this technology. Like any technology, this will have to be explained to consumers in order for them to see how it can benefit them. That is a challenge for marketers. A challenge to make the metaverse seem as though it’s something consumers need to take advantage of to make their lives easier. I feel bad for us marketers in the future.

I’m going to have to agree with Henry on this one. I’m likely in the minority here, but I genuinely do not understand it all. My kids have an Oculus and they thought it was cool for the first day and haven’t touched it since. I was actually watching a show the other day and when asked what they do for a living, the person replied “Real Estate in the Metaverse” and I was thought, ” you whaaaaa?” Again, I’m not educated on the topic so I can’t dive too deep but, from my perspective, I put it on the same shelf as NFTs and crypto,,, overhyped and a cool buzz word.

Hi Olivia,

It’s an interesting insight about most consumers not even knowing what the metaverse really entails, despite being very aware of it. It seems like is still a really abstract concept for most people.

I was definitely among them at one point and it wasn’t until I actually tried on an Oculus headset that I could really grasp all that it entails. Interestingly enough, my partner took a class at Fox that took place in the metaverse about disruptive technologies. I think a lot more educational institutions will start using this concept to make online learning more interactive, and the same goes for workplaces.

Hi Olivia!

It feels like we’re all waiting to see if the Metaverse will actually take off… I can sort of wrap my head around it as a concept, but honestly, I can’t imagine it being useful in my life. At least, not yet. For me, the Metaverse is still more of a video game concept. I can’t really see how it’s going to be applicable to my daily routines. However, I admit it sounds like a cool idea. For an assignment during our first semester, I wrote about how it would be incredible to have access to The Louvre in the Metaverse — it would give access to millions of people who would otherwise never have the chance to go. It would also create engaging opportunities for classes and live lectures!

I think it’s going to take some consumer education but if the infrastructure is there, people will start using it!

Hey Olivia,

I can’t say I know much about the Metaverse myself, I assume it’s a VR experience like Spielberg’s “‘Ready Player One.” But it sounds like more which is confusing to me. I agree that if the Metaverse is to be the next big thing like marketers expect, consumers will need to be educated. I think there’s a lot of mystery surrounding, just like Bitcoin, NFTs, and Cryptocurrency. I think Facebook would do well to have a nice introductory video or maybe even interactive demo for consumers who are still in the dark about what the Metaverse is and can actually offer them – like me.

As far as how useful this technology will be when it comes to connecting with customers, that’s hard to say. Especially if said customers don’t know what it is. I think educating customers needs to be priority. And since Facebook isn’t exactly known for being transparent with consumers, I’m not sure if that’ll happen anytime soon.

Hey Olivia Great Read. I find the meta verse very interesting especially them trying to incorporate crypto currencies into the meta verse. I think people buying off Alexa was a huge success so I don’t think they any problems connecting with their customers. Marketing strategies would have to change of course in the meta but it is definitely an opportunity to reach out to more consumers. I don’t think they are any limitations with marketing in the meta or connecting with your customer. The opportunities are endless!

Hi Olivia,

Great read. The Metaverse is such an interesting but confusing concept to me. I love your point about educating consumers. I feel like it offers so much that I don’t know about!

Hey Olivia!
This was a great post on a super important topic. I’ll be frank that I have a strong distaste for both West and Musk. I think Musk’s recent actions with Twitter just might run the social media channel into the ground. As verified celebrities leave the platform, users will too. I have a Twitter account but never really got into the platform – now I just use it for SEPTA updates and I’m considering deleting my account entirely. I think Musk is creating a dangerous precedent for “free speech” and that more advertisers and users will leave the platform as hate speech rises, accounts that speak poorly of him are suspended, and employees are unjustly let go. If Musk continues on the path he’s taking with Twitter, I doubt it’ll be considered one of the main social media channels for much longer. We already have a social media platform filled with misinformation in Facebook, we don’t need another one.

Hi Olivia,
I agree with morgan that the freedom of speech has taken a wrong turn on Twitter lately. Brands are always looking for people and platforms that align with their company’s image and values. So, it’s not a shock that brands broke ties with Kanye West when he started acting up. If twitter revisits its policy it is possible that brands that pulled back on advertising will reconsider the platforms. That is if they still need it and another social media platform has not taken over. It is still too soon to say how long it will take for musk’s take-over to settle it might be a positive disruption the social-media industry needs.

This is the question of the week. While many thought the widespread layoffs and employees quitting would run Twitter into the ground, Musk noted that the platform is actually seeing a surge in users as they flock to send what could potentially be their last tweet. Many users tweeted out personal stories for how Twitter has changed their lives for the better by giving them opportunities that would have been hard to achieve otherwise. For example, a reporter wrote a story about Prince after a concert. She tagged Prince and he retweeted her article. After that, her career propelled and she was recruited by larger media outlets. These eulogies served to, in part, justify Twitter’s value and existence.

As far as advertisers pausing their spending, I am almost positive this is only temporary. After all, how many companies resumed political fundraising dollars to members of Congress stoking an insurrection after committing an overhaul to their political funding? AT&T, Toyota, Ford Motors are a few names that come to mind. I have little faith in the promises or goodwill of corporations after that.

I highly doubt Musk will outlaw hate speech and dangerous misinformation. He has been very clear about his intentions in that realm. As much as I think there is a line that must be drawn between freedom of speech and hateful, violent rhetoric that can lead to the demise of the human race, Twitter is now a private company. Musk doesn’t need to answer to stakeholders and is less bound to regulatory oversight. The reputation of Twitter as a reputable news source will be diminished as his less strict hate speech and misinformation policies continue to roll out. The blue check debacle is just one example. However, I think there is a space for this kind of platform. If Musk takes Twitter down the extremist rabbit hole and fewer people use it, a new platform will inevitably rise to replace it.

Hi Olivia,

Great topic! I read how all my classmate’s comments and how they think Musk took it too far, and I feel the same. I think a transition in management could be rough for the entire organization and demotivating for all employees when the new direction embarks on its journey with massive layoffs. It looks like Elon Musk is somehow scrambling to cover the 13bn debt he owes because of buying Twitter at an overvalued price point.
The message the employees received is either leave or be hardcore ( be ready to work for long hours) is in poor taste. I think even those who choose to stay won’t be able to feel Twitter is a happy workplace anymore. It also raises the alarm about the platform’s future as it continues to restructure as it lost its crucial talent base.

So much to unpack here. Bottom line from a marketer’s perspective is a refrain we’ve said over and over again this semester: Don’t build your digital marketing castle on someone else’s sand!

I for one still do have a twitter, and have not been in favor of Musk’s way of leading. He has fired thousands of workers, and expects the ones he’s keeping to perform at an even higher level than before. If his business model is basically reinstating Trump and “slave” labor than there is no telling how long the platform will last before it crashes for good. Twitter regulated it’s platform for a reason, and now with the “First Amendment absolutist” in charge, we may see a continuous increase in hate speech, something that is not really tolerated by the first amendment. It seems as if companies may have to pull their adds from Twitter, something that will ultimately lead to the social media platform’s demise.

Hey Olivia!

Since the Musk takeover, it’s been surreal to watch Twitter evolve so quickly. I have never been a frequent Twitter user (photos > words, in my opinion) but I have been impressed with how Twitter developed into such an incredible marketing tool. It’s literally the voice of the brand. With the addition of humor, sarcasm, and flawless customer service, Twitter is extremely powerful for a company.

My brother follows a ton of journalists and news sources in order to create a news junkie’s dream feed. It allows him to watch a story unfold with live updates. I know it has been instrumental in providing a method of communication during many international crises!

I’m curious to see how everything shakes out when the dust settles.

Hey Olivia,
I agree that Twitter has definitely felt less like it’s former self. Elon Musk’s radical views definitely go against what old Twitter stood for. I have noticed a slight change in the atomsphere of Twitter since the new takeover. I could see Twitter laxness being the downfall of the platform, because instead of appealing to a broad audience with mixed views, it is gradually going into a marginalized viewpoint that I’m sure most advertisers don’t agree with.

I think it will be interesting to see if Musk will bring in the reigns and focus on actually improving the platform, versus spreading his opinions very five seconds. It seems like he wants to brand Twitter to match his own brand, which is not a great way to do business. And if he claims to be a business man, he needs to let his companies be just that; a business.

Hi Olivia! I think this topic is so important but rarely talked about, so thanks for posting about it. I think Covax would be great to help vaccinate lower-income countries, especially those in big cities where social distancing or staying at home is less feasible. In your list of “richer” countries, I think all would be more than willing to help, except for some hesitancy from the US. A lot of our own population isn’t vaccinated, by choice, but I worry that we’re still holding onto vaccines just in case these people change their minds. It would be interesting to see if Covax could be used to monitor any vaccine waste to see if distribution should be changed up for efficiency and to eliminate vaccine waste. I think the value proposition for Covax is very strong, so it’ll be up to world leaders to see the value and implement it. Great post!