Despite confusion, over half of Canadians interested in using the metaverse

CANADA, February 2023 - The metaverse has generated much buzz in the last year. However, it is still in its infancy, and both customers and marketers are wary about its potential. To find out more, GetApp asked nearly 1,000 Canadian consumers about their views on the metaverse, how they use it, and where they see its potential. The research reveals that 53% of consumers in Canada are curious to try the metaverse, though only 38% of respondents fully understood the definition and concept behind the metaverse.

Many Canadians are still confused by the metaverse

When asked if they knew what the term 'metaverse' meant before being provided with a definition, only 38% of consumers said "yes." 33% cited being familiar with the name, while 18% were familiar with the concept of the metaverse but not the name. As much as 12% of Canadian respondents were totally unfamiliar with either the idea or the term.

Commenting on the trend of the metaverse in the future,
- A majority (90%) of consumers agreed that it is here to stay,
- Over a third (35%) believe that it will continue to be significant for a niche audience
- Nearly half (45%) think that it will affect everyone's life to some extent
- 11% of respondents said that it would significantly affect everyone's lives.

What is sparking the curiosity surrounding the metaverse?

In our poll, gaming was the primary activity that attracted people to the metaverse. This was mentioned by 60% of metaverse users, significantly more than other activities like socializing with people (34%), going to a virtual event (20%), and taking training or courses (17%). In addition, 39% of metaverse-using respondents revealed they had made a purchase there, such as virtual games, virtual products and cryptocurrencies. Likewise, avatar customization is somewhat or very important to 75% of metaverse users.

Out of respondents who have used the metaverse, 34% did so to stay up-to-date on the latest technology trends. In comparison, another 28% said they did so to participate in a particular event or game, while 22% were intrigued to try it after hearing about it from friends.

Will Metaverse go mainstream in 2023?

Surveyed consumers appear to like the metaverse, with an overall satisfaction score of 81%.

- Among those non-users who are interested in trying the metaverse, 68% cited being merely curious. In comparison, 41% are interested in a rare or exclusive experience, and 32% perceive some value in it as a social platform.

- Among the 10% who have used it, less than one-third identify as "actively using the metaverse."

"Many Canadians are still uncertain about what the metaverse is and how they'd like to interact with it," said Tessa Anaya, analyst for this study. "However, the interest is still there. Perhaps with time and development, the metaverse can welcome current non-users who seem to be most interested in the platform's social capabilities."

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This release was published on openPR.