Issue Virtual space and the restructuring of future life

Summary

Life has so far centred on fixed physical places, but metaverse and extended-reality technologies are shifting its centre toward virtual space. As work and daily life extend into virtual environments, physical constraints loosen, yet clashes with existing industrial and labour rules and broad lifestyle changes follow, requiring more flexible social and economic systems. Pandemic distancing rules pushed firms into emergency remote work, and savings on rent and access to overseas talent spread positive views of virtual work. People increasingly prefer loose ties in interest-based online communities over neighbourhood relations, and multi-persona lives in which the body stays home while social life happens online are spreading across generations. Workers report less commuting stress and similar or better efficiency, but many firms are pulling staff back to offices over concerns about collaboration, culture, performance management, security and moral hazard.