The media coverage surrounding the Metaverse has been -at best- mixed, with some portraying it as the logical evolution of the internet and others dismissing it as mere hype. This is nothing new. The media s relationship with emerging technologies has always been complicated, marked by a mix of skepticism, fascination, and, at times, hysteria. The parallels between the media coverage of the internet in the late 90s and early 00s and the Metaverse narrative of today are striking. In the late 90s, the internet was a new and unknown territory, and many people were skeptical about its potential. The media coverage of the internet was often negative, portraying it as a breeding ground for hackers, cybercriminals, and Chis Hansen catching predators. Terms like "cyberspace," "virtual reality," and "dot.com" were new and confusing to many, and the media struggled to explain what they meant.
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