Marriage in the Metaverse: Redefining Traditional Concepts in the Digital Age

Abstract

With the emergence of novel technologies such as the Metaverse and blockchain, traditional concepts like marriage are undergoing transformation. The Metaverse, as a three-dimensional virtual space, enables users to interact, live, and even marry within its digital environment. This phenomenon presents new opportunities for redefining human relationships and social institutions, such as marriage. Marriage in the Metaverse is defined as a formal commitment between two or more users within a virtual space, which may include virtual ceremonies, exchanges of commitments, and smart contracts. This type of marriage can occur entirely in the virtual domain or serve as a complement to marriage in the physical world. Marriage in the Metaverse is rapidly expanding due to advantages such as global accessibility, reduced costs, and personalized experiences. This phenomenon can facilitate international relationships and eliminate geographical constraints. However, marriage in the Metaverse also faces numerous challenges that require thorough examination and appropriate solutions. The absence of clear regulations governing marriage in the Metaverse, issues related to divorce, the division of virtual assets, and the identification of real identities, along with concerns regarding the devaluation of physical relationships and negative impacts on family structures, raise critical concerns. Additionally, risks of fraud and misuse in virtual spaces, as well as technological limitations in fully simulating the marriage experience, present significant obstacles. The primary objective of this study is to examine and analyze this emerging phenomenon and its role in redefining traditional concepts such as marriage in the digital era. This article aims to identify the opportunities and challenges associated with marriage in the Metaverse and to propose solutions for addressing these challenges. The proposed strategies include drafting comprehensive legal frameworks to regulate marriage in the Metaverse, encompassing identity verification, rights and obligations of spouses, and divorce-related matters. Furthermore, international coordination for establishing global standards in this domain, the development of security technologies to protect user data and prevent misuse, and the creation of identity verification mechanisms to ensure the authenticity of user information are recommended to overcome these challenges.