The Metaverse and Human Identity: Philosophical and Social Reflections on Virtual Existence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/mr2024.128Keywords:
metaverse, identity, virtuality, ethics, digital culture, societyAbstract
The emergence of the metaverse as a space for digital immersion and simulation invites profound reflection on human identity and social behavior. This article addresses the philosophical and social implications of inhabiting virtual realities, questioning the nature of presence, authenticity, and relationality in these environments. Drawing on indexed literature, we analyze how digital avatars mediate self-perception, how virtual interactions reshape community structures, and how immersion challenges the boundaries between the real and the simulated. We argue that the metaverse is not merely a technological innovation but a cultural and existential transformation that demands new ethical frameworks. This exploration raises critical questions about power dynamics, inclusion, and identity fluidity, proposing that the metaverse is both a reflection and a projection of contemporary humanity. The study contributes to the current academic debate by providing a multidisciplinary perspective, combining philosophical reasoning with sociological observation.
References
Al-shanableh N, Alzyoud M, Al-husban RY, Alshanableh NM, Al-Oun A, Al-Batah MS, et al. Advanced Ensemble Machine Learning Techniques for Optimizing Diabetes Mellitus Prognostication: A Detailed Examination of Hospital Data. Data and Metadata 2024;3:.363-.363. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm2024.363.
Asgarova B, Jafarov E, Babayev N, Abdullayev V, Singh K. Artificial neural networks with better analysis reliability in data mining. LatIA 2024;2:111–111. https://doi.org/10.62486/latia2024111.
Asgarova B, Jafarov E, Babayev N, Abdullayev V, Singh K. Improving Cleaning of Solar Systems through Machine Learning Algorithms. LatIA 2024;2:100–100. https://doi.org/10.62486/latia2024100.
Baudrillard J. Simulacra and Simulations. In: Calhoun C, Gerteis J, Moody J, Pfaff S, Virk I, editors. The New Social Theory Reader. London: Routledge; 2020. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483376493.n279
Buitrago MV, Vargas OLT. Classification of tomato ripeness in the agricultural industry using a computer vision system. LatIA 2024;2:105–105. https://doi.org/10.62486/latia2024105.
Crespo-Pereira V, Sánchez-Amboage E, Membiela-Pollán M. Facing the challenges of metaverse: a systematic literature review from Social Sciences and Marketing and Communication. El Profesional de la Información. 2023;32(1). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2023.ene.02
Espinosa JMA. Metaverse, virtuality and self-image: ethical reflections on the individual in the virtual society. J Philos Ethics. 2024;6(1). https://doi.org/10.22259/2642-8415.0601003
Floridi L. The Fourth Revolution: How the Infosphere is Reshaping Human Reality. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2014. https://doi.org/10.5840/TPM20125756
Goffman E. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Anchor Books; 1959. https://doi.org/10.2307/2089106
Iyengar MS, Venkatesh R. A Brief communication on Virtual Reality (VR) in Hospitality Industry & Global Travel and Tourism. Gamification and Augmented Reality 2024;2:40–40. https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202440.
Juliao Vargas CG, Zarta Rojas FA. Metaverso, identidad virtual y mundos paralelos. Rev Iberoam Cienc Tecnol Soc. 2024;19(57).
Lamjid A, Anass A, Ennejjai I, Mabrouki J, Soumia Z. Enhancing the hiring process: A predictive system for soft skills assessment. Data and Metadata 2024;3:.387-.387. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm2024.387.
Lee L-H, Braud T, Zhou P, Wang L, Xu D, Lin Z, et al. All One Needs to Know about Metaverse: A Complete Survey on Technological Singularity, Virtual Ecosystem, and Research Agenda. Found Trends Hum Comput Interact. 2021;18(1):1–144. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11200.05124/1
Li H, Li B. The state of metaverse research: a bibliometric visual analysis based on CiteSpace. J Big Data. 2024;11(1):14.
Majid AQHH, Rahim NFA, Teoh AP, Alnoor A. Factors Influencing the Intention to Use Human Resource Information Systems Among Employees of SMEs in Iraq. Data and Metadata 2024;3:.362-.362. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm2024.362.
Mousa A. Sherry Turkle, Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. Questions de communication. 2020;(38). https://doi.org/10.4000/questionsdecommunication.24739
Muthusundari M, Velpoorani A, Kusuma SV, L T, Rohini O k. Optical character recognition system using artificial intelligence. LatIA 2024;2:98–98. https://doi.org/10.62486/latia202498.
Muthusundari S, Priyadharshii M, Preethi V, Priya K, Priyadharcini K. Smart watch for early heart attack detection and emergency assistance using IoT. LatIA 2024;2:109–109. https://doi.org/10.62486/latia2024109.
Quesada AJF, Pacheco RH. Guidelines for writing software building reports. Gamification and Augmented Reality 2024;2:39–39. https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202439.
Sirvente A, Suarez EC, Pitre IJ. MeDHiME Methodology: potentiation of ova designs for learning. Gamification and Augmented Reality 2024;2:43–43. https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202443.
Swathi P, Tejaswi DS, Khan MA, Saishree M, Rachapudi VB, Anguraj DK. A research on a music recommendation system based on facial expressions through deep learning mechanisms. Gamification and Augmented Reality 2024;2:38–38. https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202438.
Swathi P, Tejaswi DS, Khan MA, Saishree M, Rachapudi VB, Anguraj DK. Real-time number plate detection using AI and ML. Gamification and Augmented Reality 2024;2:37–37. https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202437.
Turkle S. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. New York: Basic Books; 2011. https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.48-7239
Yafoz A. Drones in Action: A Comprehensive Analysis of Drone-Based Monitoring Technologies. Data and Metadata 2024;3:.364-.364. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm2024.364.
Yang L, Ni ST, Wang Y, Yu A, Lee JA, Hui P. Interoperability of the metaverse: a digital ecosystem perspective review [Internet]. arXiv; 2024 [cited 2024 Jul 15]. Available from: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.05205
Yang L, Xu Y, Hui P. Framing metaverse identity: a multidimensional framework for governing digital selves. Telecommun Policy. 2025;49(3):102906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102906
Zhang R, Sarmientor J, Ocampo ALD, Hernandez R. Fruit and vegetable self-billing system based on image recognition. Data and Metadata 2024;3:.397-.397. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm2024.397.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Fátima Veliz Huanca (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.