METAVERSE AS A FUTURISTIC PUBLIC SPHERE ALTERNATIVE

The public sphere, in its simplest form, refers to the space where rational, equal and free individuals communicate independently of any authority on a political issue.From Ancient Greek to present, the content of pubcil sphere has changed depending on the socio-economic conditions and technological developments.Especially the internet technology that emerged at the end of the 20th century has opened a new topic for public sphere discussions.Some digital platforms which called new media, are defined as public sphere because they open the independent public communication to everyone.However, because of the deficiencies of new media platforms about space and action, the idea of these platforms cannot be defined as public sphere has also revealed.In this study, the potential of metaverse which is the one of the most popular new generation internet platforms, to create a public sphere has been examined and it has been evaluated that this space can create an alternative to the deficiencies of classical new media platforms in terms of space and action.