Iceland caricatures Mark Zuckerbergs metaverse video to create tourism advert
A satirical ad from Iceland has mocked Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergâs efforts to rebrand his company into âMetaâ by introducing audiences to the reality of the âIcelandverseâ.
Itâs been two weeks since Mr Zuckerbergâs announcement of his companyâs rebranding, but online mocking and trolling of the rebrand has not ceased to exist.
One such video, that caricatures the chief executive, has come from âInspired by Icelandâ, a communication platform owned by Business Iceland, which is a public-private partnership with the countryâs department of tourism that seeks to promote and market Iceland.
The video, uploaded to Inspired by Icelandâs social media pages on 11 November, features Icelandic actor and writer Jorundur Ragnarsson, who plays a character called âChief Visionary Officer Zack Mossbergssonâ.
Donning a long-sleeved black T-shirt, Mr Ragnarsson can be seen in the video imitating the Facebook founderâs awkward style.
âToday, I want to talk about a revolutionary approach on how to connect our world, without being super weird,â Mr Ragnarsson says in the video, kicking off a tour of the countryâs breathtaking tourist attractions.
âSome said itâs not possible. Some said itâs out of reach. To them, we say itâs already here. Seriously. Look, itâs right here,â he adds, pointing at a window showing vast, snow-covered mountains that dot the country.
Mr Ragnarsson then takes a jibe at Mr Zuckerbergâs push into virtual reality by saying that âthe Icelandverse enhanced actual reality, without silly-looking headsets. In our open-world experience, everything is real.â
The parody highlights the scenic beauty of Iceland, including the countryâs hot springs, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. The ad also mocks Mr Zuckerberg for his use of sunscreen, which he has often been photographed using.
Mr Zuckerberg acknowledged the parody and responded to Inspired by Icelandâs Facebook page. âAmazing. I need to make a trip to the Icelandverse soon. Glad youâre wearing sunscreen too,â he said.
The clever video has become an instant hit on social media, as it has registered over 3.5 million views on Twitter alone.
âThe hand movements had me crying,â wrote historian Mar Hicks, in a quote tweet.
âThis is the stuff of genius,â wrote another Twitter user.
The Nordic country has been a popular travel destination among European tourists prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, Iceland reportedly welcomed two million visitors and it is likely to welcome around 700,000 travellers this year.
During Metaâs rebranding exercise in October, Mr Zuckerberg had revealed a glimpse of his companyâs plans to build the âmetaverse,â which is a digital world built with the capability of connecting people in futuristic virtual landscapes through the help of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technologies, according to the founder.
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