The Metaverse as a Convergence of Virtual and Real Worlds: A Risk Assessment in the Context of Ethics

Öz

Abstract: When Bitcoin first emerged as a virtual and digital asset, skepticism about its potential for even short-term success was widespread. Yet, it ultimately reshaped financial systems globally. Now, Facebook, one of the largest virtual platforms with nearly 3 billion users, has taken a pivotal step toward establishing a digital parallel universe known as the Metaverse. Rebranded as "Meta," the company has consolidated social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp under its umbrella, signaling a bold move toward a fully immersive digital realm. However, this initiative has triggered significant reactions from economic, technological, political, and religious domains. While the Metaverse promises to revolutionize human interaction through technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), it also raises profound concerns regarding technology addiction, cyberbullying, data privacy, psychological dependency, and ethical dilemmas. These concerns are particularly salient in the commodification of personal faith and the trivialization of sacred practices. This study conducts a theoretical and conceptual analysis of the Metaverse, focusing on the intersection of technological advancements with religious, moral, and ethical values. Drawing on existing literature, it examines cultural, spiritual, and technological risks while identifying significant gaps in scholarly discussions. By highlighting these risks, the research advocates for the development of comprehensive ethical frameworks to ensure inclusivity, authenticity, and accountability in this hyper-connected digital realm. Additionally, the study explores the potential role of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs in mitigating these risks, offering practical recommendations for managing challenges in a balanced and reasonable manner. This work aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the Metaverse and its implications for human values in an increasingly digitized world.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Metaverse
• technology addiction
• cyberbullying
• virtual reality
• ethical and religious realities
• mixed realities
• risk assessment.

Sanal ve Gerçek Dünyaların Kesişim Noktası Olarak Metaverse: Etik Bağlamında Bir Risk Değerlendirmesi

Öz

Bitcoin’in sanal ve dijital bir varlık olarak ilk ortaya çıktığında, kısa vadede bile başarılı olacağına dair geniş bir şüphe vardı. Ancak Bitcoin, nihayetinde küresel finansal sistemleri köklü bir şekilde değiştirdi. Şimdi ise, yaklaşık 3 milyar kullanıcısıyla dünyanın en büyük sanal platformlarından biri olan Facebook, Metaverse adı verilen dijital bir paralel evren oluşturma yolunda önemli bir adım atmıştır. Şirket, adını "Meta" olarak değiştirerek Instagram ve WhatsApp gibi sosyal medya platformlarını çatısı altında birleştirmiş ve tam anlamıyla kapsayıcı bir dijital aleme yönelik cesur bir girişimde bulunmuştur. Bununla birlikte, bu girişim ekonomik, teknolojik, politik ve dini alanlardan önemli tepkilerle karşılaşmıştır. Metaverse, sanal gerçeklik (VR) ve artırılmış gerçeklik (AR) gibi teknolojiler aracılığıyla insan etkileşimlerini köklü bir şekilde dönüştürme potansiyeline sahipken, aynı zamanda veri gizliliği, psikolojik bağımlılık ve etik ikilemlerle ilgili derin endişeler doğurmaktadır. Bu endişeler, özellikle kişisel inançların metalaştırılması ve kutsal pratiklerin sıradanlaştırılması konularında belirgin hale gelmektedir. Dönüştürücü potansiyeline rağmen, Metaverse üzerine yapılan akademik tartışmaların, bu dijital ortamın din ve etik üzerindeki etkilerine yeterince odaklanmadığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışma, Metaverse’i teknolojik gelişmelerin dini, ahlaki ve etik değerlerle kesişim noktasında ele alarak teorik ve kavramsal bir analiz gerçekleştirmektedir. Mevcut literatüre dayanarak, kültürel, manevi ve teknolojik riskleri inceleyen çalışma, akademik tartışmalardaki önemli boşlukları tespit etmektedir. Bu riskleri vurgulayan araştırma, kapsayıcılığı, özgünlüğü ve hesap verebilirliği sağlamak için kapsamlı etik çerçevelerin geliştirilmesini savunmaktadır. Ayrıca, çalışma, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı’nın bu riskleri hafifletme konusundaki potansiyel rolünü inceleyerek, bu zorlukların dengeli ve makul bir şekilde yönetilmesine yönelik pratik öneriler sunmaktadır. Bu çalışma, giderek dijitalleşen bir dünyada Metaverse’in insan değerleri üzerindeki etkilerine dair daha incelikli bir anlayışa katkıda bulunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Metaverse
• teknoloji bağımlılığı
• siber zorbalık
• sanal gerçeklik
• etik ve dini gerçeklikler
• karma gerçeklikler
• risk değerlendirmesi.

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