The EU spent €387,000 on a meta-universe party to attract young people, but fewer than 10 people attended
The European Union, to put it mildly, wasted €387,000 ($408,000) in an attempt to attract "politically unaffiliated youth" to one of its projects.
Here's What We Know
The Global Gateway is a new EU initiative that will provide €300 billion ($316 billion) in funding to help developing nations with projects in various areas, including digital technology, transportation and energy. In an effort to get people aged 18-35 interested, it was decided to throw a party, but not in real life, but in the meta-universe.
Discover the new #GlobalGateway digital platform - https://t.co/DHAdsfwbA1
- EU International Partnerships ???????? (@EU_Partnerships) October 13, 2022
Our shared digital space is the perfect place to get to know new people and reflect on global issues to make a difference for our shared future. #WhoWeAre pic.twitter.com/IAA01vIYbo
A total of €387,000 has been allocated for this venture. In mid-October, a promotional video of the event was published. The Twitter entry, at the time of writing, had 21 retweets, 57 responses and 56 likes.
I'm here at the "gala" concert in the EU foreign aid dept's €387k metaverse (designed to attract non politically engaged 18-35 year olds - see story below). After initial bemused chats with the roughly five other humans who showed up, I am alone. https://t.co/ChIHeXasQP pic.twitter.com/kZWIVlKmhL
- Vince Chadwick (@vchadw) November 29, 2022
The authors of the project believed a visit to the metaverse would be of interest to young audiences. However, fewer than ten people showed up for the event. One of them was journalist Vince Chadwick. He reports that he had the honor to talk to about five other users at the party, but very soon he was left alone, as the others have found a more interesting occupation and left the meeting.
Source: Politico
Image: The VR Soldier
