Four years on: has Meta delivered the metaverse dream?

In October 2021, Facebook rebranded as Meta, signalling a bold bet on the metaverse and the future of social technology. Four years on (to the day!), I can’t help but reflect on what was promised, what we expected back in 2022, and what has actually materialised. Has the world embraced immersive digital spaces, or is the metaverse still more hype than reality?

What Meta promised back in 2021

At Connect 2021, Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta, bringing together Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus under one umbrella. The goal? “To bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses.”

The metaverse, as described, would feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world. It would allow people to share immersive experiences even when they couldn’t be together — and do things together that aren’t possible in the physical world. Zuckerberg positioned it as the next evolution in social technology, a new chapter for the company.

Connect 2021 highlighted how the metaverse could transform social connection, entertainment, gaming, fitness, work, education, and commerce. Meta announced tools for creators, including the Presence Platform for mixed reality on Quest 2, and a $150-million investment in immersive learning to train the next generation of creators. Financial reporting would now separate Family of Apps and Reality Labs, reflecting this new focus.

The company positioned itself as moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences, continuing its mission to help people connect and find communities while exploring AR and VR potential.

Four years on: reality vs. promise

Now, four years later, some elements of this vision have made tangible progress, while others remain aspirational. Meta has delivered new VR experiences, creator tools, and incremental steps in mixed reality, but mainstream adoption is still limited. The metaverse is not ubiquitous, immersive workplaces are emerging slowly, and the fully interconnected social universe described in 2021 remains a work in progress.

• Meta’s ambitions have evolved – but adoption hasn’t exploded
  Platforms like Horizon Worlds exist, but user numbers and engagement remain modest. AR and VR hardware is improving, but mainstream adoption is slower than predicted. The metaverse remains a niche playground for enthusiasts, developers, and early adopters.
• Reality bites: challenges of scale and interoperability
  Different platforms, proprietary ecosystems, and limited cross-compatibility mean Meta’s metaverse is largely self-contained. Developers and creators continue to experiment, but many experiences remain siloed. The dream of a seamless, interconnected web is still aspirational.
• The broader tech landscape is catching up
  It’s not just Meta pushing the metaverse. Competing platforms, AR/VR startups, and game companies are experimenting with immersive, interactive experiences. Much of what is branded as the “metaverse” has roots in gaming (MMOs, AR apps like Pokémon Go) and social apps that predate Meta’s rebrand. Human behaviour hasn’t changed – people still seek connection, entertainment, and productivity in familiar ways.

Reflecting on my 2022 predictions

In August 2022, I wrote a “non-expert” take on what the metaverse would be, wouldn’t be, and already was. Looking back, here’s how I got it right, wrong, and what’s evolved unexpectedly:

What I got right:

• Social remains central: Human desire to connect continues to drive adoption, from MMOs to Horizon Worlds. People-first behaviour is unchanged.
• Fun is key: Gamification and playful experiences remain a major motivator for immersive tech adoption.
• It won’t be unavoidable: The metaverse hasn’t become inescapable; tech adoption is still voluntary and subject to public scrutiny.

What I got wrong (I’m only human, after all):

• Integration into daily life is slower than expected: AR glasses and VR headsets are still not mainstream. Adoption is more gradual than I predicted.
• Productivity tools haven’t fully landed: While virtual collaboration tools exist, widespread workplace adoption remains limited.
• Ownership is complicated: Meta’s dominance in branding hasn’t translated to universal ownership – the landscape is fragmented, not the “open” utopia I assumed.

What has evolved in unexpected ways:

• Accessibility gains traction: Immersive tech continues to offer meaningful accessibility improvements, from captions to translation tools.
• Hybrid experiences flourish: Many metaverse-like experiences now blend physical and digital, from AR events to VR co-working sessions.
• The hype cycle matters: Public perception is evolving alongside technology. The metaverse is increasingly understood as a gradual evolution of the internet rather than a sudden revolution.

Four years on: a human-centred perspective

Ultimately, the metaverse hasn’t replaced reality – and perhaps that’s a good thing. As I predicted in 2022, technology evolves around us, and humans remain the same: social, playful, and selective in what we adopt. Meta’s bold rebrand marked a vision, but adoption is slower, behaviour is consistent, and the metaverse is still very much a collection of experiments rather than a singular, immersive world.

The lesson for brands, creators, and everyday users? Focus on people, not platforms. The tools will continue to improve, but the human drive to connect, share, and have fun will always define the metaverse’s future.