Virtual worlds are no longer science fiction

Virtual worlds are no longer science fiction
September 28, 2011Comments (0)Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

It's hard to imagine a place that does not physically exist, but it's out there. Second Life is an online community where you can create your own avatar and interact with other people in a visual, virtual space. If you’re still getting used to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare, this next realm of the internet will blow your mind.

Imagine a limitless world that you can control. From your appearance to your lifestyle to your ability to amass Linden Dollars in the marketplace, Second Life gives you the chance to be whoever you want to be without the boring tethers and crushing consequences of real life.

Is Second Life going to be the new 'in' thing? MySpace grew in popularity then vanished into oblivion once Facebook arrived. Could Second Life push Facebook into the background? So many of us conduct so much of our lives online. Who even meets face-to-face anymore? Out of town business meetings are now video conferences on Skype, and formerly mailed party invitations are 'events' on Facebook. Now that we all live on the virtual Holodeck, it seems only natural to give birth to virtual envoys to do our bidding in an entirely constructed world.

Facebook has become an indispensible tool for our social and business lives. Right now, social networking is still a tool and not a lifeline. But the lines are blurring—and fast. As an intern at a marketing firm, I am amazed at the rapid expansion of advertising opportunities on social media sites. Now that advertisers have recognized the potential markets on Facebook and Twitter, will they inundate Second Life with billboards and hyperlinks? I sure hope not. One of my reasons for having a virtual life is to escape from reality, and that includes advertising. 

It’s fascinating to try and predict how the latest fad can turn into a way of life. For now, I’ve left my crystal ball in my Second Life apartment, and I’ve got to get my avatar dressed to go out and paint the virtual town.

Brian King, Social Media Intern Fall 2011

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Posted by: Interns
Posted on: September 28, 2011
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Alexandra Prestia
I'm nineteen years old and a junior at FSU; majoring in Business Marketing. I plan on attending law school and going into corporate law. I am always on the go and I'm always laughing.

Sully Moreno
I'm a grad student at the FSU College of Communication, social media intern at Onyx, speech teaching assistant and nail art enthusiast.

Brian Brian King
I am a senior at FSU majoring in English Literature. I love sports and always want the newest and coolest gadgets. Dream job: to write about either of these two passions of mine.

 

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