Facebook Spaces & the risky virtualization of retail

Facebook Spaces is an attempt by Facebook to create social spaces that are built entirely within virtual reality. Visit places with your friends, virtually. Talk in exotic settings. Organize the next family reunion on the top of Mount Everest. This is one of the ways the social network is trying to leverage the $2 billion purchase of virtual reality company Oculus Rift.Right now, while you can create an avatar and travel into the world of Facebook Spaces, there is only limited functionality. You can use a virtual selfie stick to take a virtual photo with your virtual friends. You can sketch objects. You can take a tour of different environments. Other than that, it’s pretty much a chat room.