This was forced error. They didn't need the metaverse to be relevant.
They didn't need the metaverse, but they did need some sort of new direction; buying out nascent social networks was a stall tactic to prolong the time before they became uncool with the hip youths.
I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that Zuckerberg read Snow Crash as a teenager, loved it, and either missed the punk ethos or edited it out of his memory when he found himself in a position of respectable authority.
I think if we're using it in a non-sports context, "own goal" and "unforced error" are both appropriate.
This is the politicians fallacy:
>We need to do something.
>This is something.
>Ergo we must do it.
I can obviously think of any ways they could have done things worse. I can also think of many ways in which they could have done much better.