Making sense of the metaverse: the role of functional and interpretive engagement

Despite early enthusiasm, adoption of metaverse technologies has slowed, partly due to uncertainty surrounding their value and practical applications. While previous research has primarily focused on technology adoption, much less is known about users’ ability to interpret and communicate their value. This study examines how results demonstrability, interpreted here as users’ ability to interpret and communicate the value of a technology, is associated with user engagement with the metaverse. Drawing on skill acquisition, commitment, change agency and sensemaking theory, we develop a conceptual model linking functional engagement (curiosity, ease of use, perceived usefulness) to technological sensemaking (extensive use and results demonstrability). Survey data from 355 users in the United States and France were analysed using structural equation modelling and cluster analysis. The results show that results demonstrability is associated with technology engagement. Although positively related to results demonstrability, extensive use alone is insufficient to explain users’ ability to make sense of the technology. Cluster analysis identifies distinct user profiles with different configurations of engagement, digital skills, trust, hedonic motivation, and sense of community. The study contributes to research on technology adoption by highlighting technological sensemaking and extending attention beyond use toward users’ preparedness to interpret and communicate technological value.