Facebook on Sunday announced that it will create 10,000 new high-skilled jobs within the European Union (EU) over the next five years to build a metaverse – a digital world in which multiple people can hang out within a 3D environment.
As a part of the strategy, the social media giant is focused on recruiting highly specialised engineers in countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, and Ireland.
Nick Clegg, Facebook’s head of global affairs, and Javier Olivan, vice president of central products, said in a blogpost that “Europe is hugely important to Facebook. From the thousands of employees in the EU to the millions of businesses using our apps and tools every day, Europe is a big part of our success, as Facebook is invested in the success of European companies and the wider economy.”
What is metaverse?
According to Facebook, metaverse is a set of virtual spaces where users can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as them. With metaverse, users can hang out with friends, work, play, learn, shop, create, and more.
Andrew Bosworth, VP, Facebook Reality Labs, and Nick Clegg also said in a blog that “The metaverse isn’t a single product one company can build alone. Just like the internet, the metaverse exists whether Facebook is there or not.”
Invested €43.1M
Facebook expects the metaverse idea to take around 10-15 years to become a reality. The company recently invested $50M (approx €43.1M) in global research and program partners to help build the metaverse responsibly.
Other companies such as Microsoft, Roblox, and Epic Games are investing heavily in their version of the metaverse. Facebook is planning to work with experts in government, industry, and academia to make the metaverse a reality.
Clegg and Olivan say, “We look forward to working with governments across the EU to find the right people and the right markets to take this forward, as part of an upcoming recruitment drive across the region.”
The new announcement comes as Facebook faces increased scrutiny over its practices across many countries.
Earlier this month, Frances Haugen, who worked as a product manager on Facebook’s civic misinformation, accused Facebook of prioritising profit over safety repeatedly.
Haugen, and another Facebook whistleblower, Sophie Zhang, will testify before the UK Parliament this month, reports CNBC. EU lawmakers are also calling on Haugen to appear at a parliamentary hearing in November.
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