Are we already living in a metaverse? Facebook is ready to change so it can take on Fortnite. It will be a battle to decide the future of the Internet.

This isn't the real pop star. It is her digital avatar. This month, she performed to millions of fans inside Fortnite.

The creators of Fortnite say it is more than a game. They call it a metaverse. This means it is a kind of virtual world. 

Fortnite is so popular that gamers have spent more than 10 million combined years playing it already. 

Now, Facebook wants to join in. It has said it will also become a metaverse. Users will have Virtual Reality headsets and live in an entire virtual world.

Some people think the metaverse is the future of the internet. Soon we will not know the difference between online and offline. 

What's happening?

But others say this is not true. During lockdowns we were forced to live online. Now, we know we prefer real life. 

Are we already living in a metaverse?

No! Virtual reality can never replace the real thing. Live music will always be more memorable than a virtual concert. Sharing real food with friends we can hug will always be better than a group chat. 

Yes! We already exist in the metaverse. We all carry smartphones. We are always plugged in to other virtual worlds. This is the new normal. We should get used to it!