How Will Metaverse Technologies Affect the PR Profession? Expected Futuristic Practices Based on the Vision of a Sample of PR Practitioners
摘要
It is predictable that metaverse transforms the public relations (PR) profession by developing new methods to promote products and engage target audiences in the future. Many researchers investigated the impact of the metaverse on the media and communication field, while only few studies focused on its effects on the PR field, especially in the Arab world. Accordingly, the study aims to analyze the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of metaverse technologies in the PR profession. The study interviewed in-depth 16 PR professionals from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The results of these interviews showed that metaverse is used on a limited scale in PR in the Arab world. Based on the study sample vision, Metaverse’s PR opportunities will focus on promoting many areas such as crisis management, institutional performance, public participation, corporate reputation and digital PR strategies, while Metaverse-related challenges include high cost, privacy, user data security, mistrust, and the technological gap between countries and users. Therefore, the sample study recommended that arrangements be made to address these challenges before metaverse is applied in the PR profession.