Dystopian Society discussion

What do you think happens (or what do you hope happens) to the world and our characters after the novel ends?

I was hoping that they would use rule-free (and somewhat lawless) OASIS to raise awareness and build motivation for people to deal with the issues of the outside world. But the more I think about this, the less likely it seems. I regularly use social media and online fora to raise awareness about issues I am passionate about (refugees, corporate governance, environmental sustainability, human rights, etc) - in some ways it seems like the online environment is the perfect vehicle since everyone is always on it, but on the other hand, people are online not to get informed or educated, but to be entertained. They don't want their day brought down by photos of whales being harpooned or incisive political analysis and comment. They want to move animated icons if candy around a screen or look at pithy memes posted by a grumpy cat. So, to be very depressing and dystopian about it, I think they're all doomed ;(

In all serious, though, there is something fundamentally worrying about a population that is so obsessed with short-term inauthentic (virtual) entertainment that they forget and resist real opportunities to create their own utopia in the real world for themselves and generations to come...

I posed the question in my comments after reading - do you think Wade will use the red "kill" switch to turn off OASIS? I am torn - on the one hand, so many people make a living in this tough future economy from/in OASIS, and so many go to school online. Should they all unplug once in a while and interact with other humans, and hmm, nature, the sun and all that? Sure! But to just end OASIS might be so disruptive to the economy and education to be darn near impossible. So I think that Wade, and his friends, DO unplug more, and join together to run the corporation.

As an aside - I would have LOVED to go to school online, if there was such a thing in my day. I wasn't socially awkward or anything - I just think that the whole high school drama thing is something we could all do without. Especially so if you live in a dangerous area like Wade did - to have to leave the house and walk to school would be so dangerous.

As soon as we were shown the red button I knew it was the kill switch. I don't think Wade will hit it in the short term, if for any other reason I don't think he's ready to say goodbye to Z yet. But long term? Maybe. But Jane brought up some good points about how integral OASIS is to the world economy (and education). Perhaps things would get really dystopian after the button was used. Sequel: Ready Kill Switch?