The Real in the Ethereal: Creating Space, Meaning, and Power Online

Abstract

Within the context of virtual worlds, this paper aims to build and frame issues of inequality, access, and meaning, within the world’s rising economies. What we can draw from is an idea of built communities, and meaningful interactions, that have set the stage for economic participation. Virtual economies therefore are fueled by spaces that people participate in, and how these have transformed structures that use them for economic extraction. This can be best seen in the form of ‘gold farming’ which has produced virtual sweatshops. I evaluate these practices, alongside ideas of how governments are considering these economies, as well as how in the future these issues can be addressed with further research.