Protests Staged at Decentraland Headquarters of Samsung's Metaverse Initiative
In a groundbreaking move, the non-profit Foundation Superflus organized the first-ever metaverse protest at Samsung's Decentraland HQ, marking a significant milestone in digital activism.
The event, which took place in the virtual reality platform Decentraland, was a testament to the evolving nature of public discourse and demonstration in digital spaces. By challenging corporate metaverse spaces, it raised questions about freedom of expression, access, and power dynamics within these platforms dominated by large corporations.
The protest featured the work of Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov, known for addressing issues of identity, language, and displacement. Badalov's piece, a red shirt design, was part of his play with words and meanings in different languages, serving as a criticism on consumerism and capitalism. Each avatar assembled outside Samsung's flagship store in the Decentraland metaverse wore matching red shirts and carried picket signs with the text 'I Have A Scream'.
While the Foundation views Samsung as the current embodiment of the hyper-commercialization of the metaverse, it did not aim to attack Samsung directly during the protest. Instead, the event served as a platform for amplifying marginalized voices and using art as a medium to communicate complex socio-political messages in a new, immersive format.
Participants received a free NFT of a custom wearable featuring Badalov's artwork during the protest. To facilitate this, participants were required to set up their own Metamask wallet for the protest process. A 2.5% royalty fee for the artist (Babi Badalov) was implemented on every transaction of the participants' NFTs (if sold).
The metaverse protest in Decentraland demonstrates the potential of these digital spaces not only as commercial or entertainment platforms but also as new arenas for civic engagement and critical social commentary. It broke down geographical and physical barriers typical of conventional protests, allowing a global audience to participate simultaneously and potentially increasing awareness and solidarity across diverse communities worldwide.
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