FIR #210: Dipping Our Toes in the Metaverse

The August installment of The Hobson & Holtz Report includes reports on these stories:

* Whatever it turns out to be, the metaverse is absolutely coming as the next iteration of the internet

* An update on NFTs: They have more staying power than we originally predicted

* Unpacking the vicious cycle of anger, hostility, and outrage on social networks

* Internal communicators need to get more involved in how managers manage

* Shades of Dooced! How a boss discovering a secret blog changed an employee at a company in Belgium

Our FIR recording sessions are now being streamed live, because why not? We already stream it in order to capture a backup recording on YouTube; we’ve just been making these restricted streams. We have decided to make them public so you can watch and comment. Our next recording is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 22 at noon ET. You’ll see our pre-recording conversation as well as seeing how the sausage gets made. Watch live here.

(You can watch the video of the making of this episode, though it’s clearly too late to share comments we can read right into the show.)

We are hosting an FIR Communicators Zoom Chat each Thursday during the stay-at-home period at 1 p.m. ET. For credentials needed to participate, contact Shel or Neville directly or request the credentials in our Facebook group or send an email to [email protected].

Special thanks to Jay Moonah for the opening and closing music.

You can find the stories from which Shel’s FIR content is selected at Shel’s Link Blog. Neville’s link blog, Outbox, is available, as well.

Host Notes

* Neville is participating in an “unhurried conversation” with Johnny Moore about social warming, a topic covered in this episode of FIR: “Is technology making us too vehement? How can we steer away from instant outrage online?” Join Neville and Johnny at 11 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, September 1, and join in the conversation. Register for free

* On Wednesday, August 25, Shel will join cybersecurity and ransomware extortion expert JD Myers to discuss the chilling, widespread impact of cybersecurity threats. We’ll also share expert advice for strategic preparation to mitigate risk, and communication tactics should the worst-case scenario occur. Learn how professional communicators and executives can prepare for impact as the threat of ransomware extortion increases at a pandemic frenzy worldwide. Hosted by IABC DC Metro, this Zoom event is free to IABC members and $10 for non-members. Register

* Join Shel’s internal communication BEAM (a short-form social audio service)

Links from This Month’s Episode

* Wikipedia’s entry on the metaverse

* What is the metaverse? 2 experts explain

* Facebook launches VR remote work app, calling it a step to the ‘metaverse’

* Mark in the Metaverse: Facebook’s CEO on why the social network is becoming ‘a metaverse company’

* <a href="https://www.ft.