'Still a long way from being realized': A Q&A with author and metaverse inventor Neal Stephenson

Science fiction author Neal Stephenson shares his thoughts on the metaverse, a term he coined, after Facebook’s rebrand brought new light to the topic. November 05, 2021 Facebook’s rebranding as Meta introduced the general public to the concept of the metaverse, causing Google searches of the term to spike following the announcement last week. But the idea of a metaverse has existed since 1992, when science fiction author Neal Stephenson coined the term in his novel “Snow Crash.” We talked to him about it all. - Stephenson [shares his thoughts on the metaverse](, a term he coined, after Facebook's rebrand brought new light to the topic. - Publishers like Lonely Planet, Healthline Media, Atlas Obscura, TripSavvy, Culture Trip and Condé Nast Traveler [are coming out with new editorial undertakings]( and products to serve readers looking to travel this holiday season. - The audio players [displayed near the byline on McClatchy's article pages are getting clickthrough rates]( as high as 5%. - After the murder of George Floyd, companies [scrambled to pledge annual diversity statistics](. But employees of color say it's not enough. Other things to know about - The Digiday Video and TV Awards recognize the companies, campaigns and technology modernizing video and TV. [Submit by the regular deadline on November 19 to save on entries](. - The role of brand and performance marketing teams is changing when it comes to CTV. [Join this webinar on November 30 at 1 p.m. EDT to learn how marketers are approaching the channel](. Sponsored by MNTN. - Publishers are always looking for the hook to grab their readers’ attention, especially around the holidays. [Creating curated roundups and gift guides are one way to drive engagement and sales](. Sponsored by Sailthru. Top Stories [Gaming & Esports]( ['Still a long way from being realized': A Q&A with author and metaverse inventor Neal Stephenson]( Science fiction author Neal Stephenson shares his thoughts on the metaverse, a term he coined, after Facebook’s rebrand brought new light to the topic. howdy! [Vertical Media]( [How travel publishers are adapting their editorial strategies for this holiday season]( Publishers like Lonely Planet, Healthline Media, Atlas Obscura, TripSavvy, Culture Trip and Condé Nast Traveler are coming out with new editorial undertakings and products to serve readers looking to travel this holiday season. [Sponsored by Adobe]( [Virtual event: How brands are improving data collection]( Register for this webinar on December 2 at 1 p.m. ET for a discussion on how teams are working to remove data management friction points in multi-solution environments. Advertisement howdy! [DIGIDAY+ MEMBER EXCLUSIVE]( [Digiday Media Research: A comprehensive guide to third-party cookie alternatives]( Over the past decade, the third party cookie has grown into one of the foundational elements of the digital advertising ecosystem. In two years, it will effectively be removed when Google ends its support of third-party cookies. [Sponsored by Sailthru]( [Finding ways to directly connect with audiences is critical in this holiday season]( Publishers are always looking for the hook to grab their readers’ attention, especially around the holidays. Creating curated roundups and gift guides are one way to drive engagement and sales. howdy! [Audio Anywhere]( ['We want to really localize': McClatchy tries out pre-roll in the audio versions of its articles]( The audio players displayed near the byline on McClatchy’s article pages are getting clickthrough rates as high as 5%. Advertisement [Sponsored by Roku]( [As streaming TV goes mainstream, holiday marketers are going all in]( TV streaming has become as ubiquitous as the household washing machine, and marketers are looking to clean up with holiday messaging that gets audiences to spend. howdy! [Agency Culture]( ['There are a lot of doors being closed': Confessions of a PR professional of color on toxic positivity and weaponized incompetence in DE&I]( After the murder of George Floyd, companies scrambled to pledge annual diversity statistics. But employees of color say it’s not enough. howdy! [Future of Work]( ['Less clean-cut': How the pandemic changed suiting for work]( Across both men’s and women’s fashion, demand for well-fitted styles that are loose or flexible, without being baggy, has increased since the pandemic began. [All Latest Stories]( [Modern Newsroom]( [The Verge’s Nilay Patel talks about how Vox Media’s tech publication has and hasn’t changed after 10 years]( A decade in, The Verge has stuck to its original editorial vision but recently has expanded into subscriptions, events and the TV screen. You received this email because you’re a member of the Digiday community. If someone forwarded this to you, [subscribe for yourself here](#). 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