PONTEM x CHAPTER X: METAVERSE RECAP

On December 7, Pontem hosted a  community call with Chapter X to discuss information and the Metaverse. Chapter X is building a Metaverse that allows users to connect and interact with each other. The Metaverse will feature a futuristic city with neon lights and a giant stage equipped with video backgrounds.  

One of the main benefits of the metaverse is that it has the potential to offer a platform for free expression and communication that is not subject to censorship. In the physical world, it is often difficult to speak out against authority or to share controversial ideas without fear of retribution.

The metaverse, however, provides a space where users can share their thoughts and ideas without fear of censorship or persecution. This could make it an important tool for promoting freedom of expression and enabling people to communicate and collaborate on a global scale.

You can listen to the full recording on Twitter, Discord, or YouTube.

Censorship and Trust in Mainstream Media and Social Media Platforms

Mainstream media outlets such as CNN and Fox News cannot always be trusted to provide accurate information. This is illustrated by the way they reported on the drug Ivermectin, which was wrongly labeled as horse medicine and dangerous for humans despite being widely used to treat parasites and river blindness in humans.

There is also concern about censorship on social media platforms like Twitter, with both the Trump and Biden administrations potentially having input on what information is allowed to be shared. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that the FBI pressured the company to censor certain content, including information about COVID-19 and political figures.  

The censorship of the Hunter Biden story on social media platforms, including Twitter, has raised concerns about the influence of organizations like the FBI on the distribution of information. Despite the story being published by a reputable news outlet, mentions of it were deleted and users who shared it were banned on Twitter.

This raises questions about the connections between social media companies and the FBI, and the potential for these connections to shape what information is made available to the public.

In an era where it can be difficult to find reliable sources of information, it's important to stay informed and seek out diverse sources of information, such as independent journalists and platforms like Substack and the Joe Rogan Experience. It's crucial that we have access to a range of perspectives and viewpoints in order to make informed decisions and hold those in power accountable.

The Impact of Algorithms on Information Consumption

Finding reliable and fair sources of information can be a challenge, especially on social media platforms where algorithms and advertisers can influence what content is presented to users. Many news channels are also one-sided, and there are concerns about people being paid to push certain narratives. In this context, it's no surprise that most people simply want fair and accurate information, and are not necessarily on the left or right of the political spectrum.

Algorithms on social media platforms can create echo chambers of information, leading users down a rabbit hole of content that reinforces their preexisting views. This can be dangerous, as it limits exposure to alternative viewpoints and can contribute to the polarization of society.

The creators of algorithms may not have intended for this to happen, but it is an unintended consequence of building a product that shows users what they want to see.

However, there is hope that sources like Twitter, under the leadership of Elon Musk, can present more balanced information that might upset both sides of the political spectrum. This would give people in the middle a chance to hear different perspectives and make their own judgments, rather than being pushed towards a predetermined narrative.

Exploring the Benefits of Decentralization

Decentralization offers the potential for unfiltered communication and the sharing of ideas and opinions, free from the constraints of a single company's controlled narrative.

While cryptocurrency has been around for some time and has gained widespread adoption, the metaverse is still in its early stages and has much room for growth. It can be compared to the evolution of mobile phones, which have become increasingly advanced and versatile over the years.

The metaverse has the potential to offer endless possibilities for users, including the ability to access news and interact with others through chatting and sharing information. This virtual reality world can be compared to a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), where entire communities and societies can exist within these virtual spaces.

As the metaverse continues to grow and evolve, it has the potential to become just as integral to our daily lives as the advanced and versatile mobile phones we carry with us everywhere. Imagine a world where you can not only communicate and stay connected with others, but also access various services and features all within a virtual reality environment.

The potential for the metaverse is truly exciting, and Chapter X is working on organizing virtual events and exploring the potential of the metaverse for bringing people together

Using the Metaverse for Large Group Events and Games

The metaverse is an exciting new frontier for hosting large group events and games as it can accommodate hundreds or even thousands of people in a single event. Attending a virtual music festival or hosting a town hall meeting with attendees from around the globe is made possible thanks to the metaverse.

Chapter X is revolutionizing the way large group events are being hosted – with their town hall function – within the metaverse. The technology allows for large numbers of people to come together in virtual worlds, with the largest ones estimated to hold 500-1000 people and smaller ones holding 5-200 people.

The metaverse also offers a variety of mini games within different worlds, including flying through rings, throwing darts or bones at a dartboard, and PVP fights. And if you have an NFT (non-fungible token) for a particular world, you can even use your own avatar to fully immerse yourself in the experience.

Chapter X Roadmap

Chapter X is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the virtual world by introducing the ability to stream live events such as Twitch streams within the Metaverse. In addition to this, Chapter X is also exploring the potential of Web three events and is working to create a social network for people to connect and build a community within the Metaverse.

In addition to hosting contests within the Metaverse, Chapter X also plans to collaborate with other players in Web3 including Pontem.

VR technology and the metaverse

There is a relationship between VR technology and the metaverse in that VR technology is often used to create and experience the metaverse.

VR technology has been around for a while, but many users may not see the value in investing in a VR headset or device if there is not a wide range of high-quality content available to experience. Without a strong content ecosystem, users may not see the value in investing in VR technology.

Additionally, the current market for VR technology is limited to a few major players like Oculus and HTC, which can make it expensive and difficult for people to access. If there were more competition in the VR market, it could lead to more affordable and accessible VR technology, helping to pave the way for wider adoption of the metaverse, and  leading to more innovations and options for users.

Preserving the Independence of Cryptocurrency Communities

Cryptocurrency communities are facing a unique challenge as they continue to grow and gain more mainstream attention. With the rise of platforms like Twitter, it's become easier for cryptocurrency enthusiasts to connect and share information with one another. However, this has also led to the creation of an "echo chamber" within the community, where ideas and perspectives are shared and reinforced, but little outside information or criticism is allowed in.

This echo chamber can be problematic, as it can lead to a narrow-minded and insular perspective within the community. It also makes it easier for misinformation to spread and for groupthink to take hold.

But the biggest concern for the future of cryptocurrency communities is the potential influence of outside corporate interests. As the community grows and becomes more popular, it's likely that marketing agencies and corporate media will take notice and try to capitalize on the attention and wealth of the community. This could lead to a dilution of the decentralization and independence that are core values of many in the cryptocurrency community.

To combat this, it's important for the community to remain vigilant and to prioritize the preservation of its core values. This means rejecting corporate partnerships and sponsorships that may compromise the integrity of the community, and being careful about the sources of information that are shared and promoted within the community.

At the same time, it's important for the community to continue to welcome new members and to be open to a diversity of perspectives. This can help to prevent the echo chamber from becoming too entrenched and can also help to foster a more balanced and nuanced understanding of the issues facing the cryptocurrency world.

ABOUT CHAPTER X

Chapter X is an immersive 3D platform that enables users to build fully customizable worlds and avatars. The X in Chapter X depicts an unknown variable, as well as the number 10, as there are 10 worlds in the Chapter X metaverse. Each project was customized from an original idea from the individual projects, developed with ChapterX to create an immersive world where NFTs come to life in 3D form.

‍ABOUT PONTEM

‍Pontem is a product development platform that enables global financial inclusion through blockchain technology. Pontem is developing the infrastructure and decentralized tools necessary for the adoption of the fastest and most scalable layer-one blockchain – Aptos

The Pontem wallet is the gateway to the Aptos ecosystem and it is available as a Chrome extension,  Firefox extension, and an iOS application. Users of the Pontem wallet can send and receive tokens, connect to decentralized applications, and explore the Aptos ecosystem.

As a result of its partnership with Aptos, Pontem has developed the foundational dApps, EVMs (such as the Move Playground), AMMs (such as Liquidswap), and other infrastructure (such as ByteBabel) needed to adopt its layer one blockchain.