If you’ve ever watched Futurama, you may remember the episode where
they go into the internet. Well,
Facebook has announced it’s working on building what it calls the “Metaverse”, the next computing platform - a new phase of interconnected virtual experiences using technologies like virtual and augmented reality.
In doing so they’ve also decided to build it all here in Europe, creating 10,000 new jobs. There are two things that draw interest for me here.
Firstly - why Europe?
Facebook is a big American company with one of the best employer brands, surely they could hire top talent across North America? I think this is a sign of what’s to come. With remote working, we are witnessing employment becoming distributed and companies tapping into a truly global workforce. Europe has a highly skilled, English-speaking and cheaper workforce than the USA, including better living conditions and social welfare making it an attractive place for companies to grow into (and potentially people to relocate to).
Secondly, with all the scandals that have faced Facebook (no pun intended), the strict regulations in the EU will provide a framework for them to operate in and help to win back consumer trust as they build the future of the Internet.
It’s an exciting time to be in Europe, I truly believe that other big tech companies will follow Facebook’s suit and invest significantly in Europe in the coming years and perhaps making it the premier destination for talent and startups.