Meta is now permitting preteens with parent-managed accounts to investigate various experiences in its online virtual reality (VR) platform, Horizon Worlds, subject to specific requirements
The company has announced that parents will soon be able to authorize age-appropriate worlds for their preteens (aged 10 to 12). These worlds include The Space Station, The Aquarium, and the Spy School racing game. Preteens can request which world they wish to access, or parents can review the list and select specific ones to grant permission.
Meta has also implemented supplementary safety measures to guarantee the welfare of children. For example, a new rating system indicates which VR world is suitable for younger users, with options such as 10+, 13+, or 18+. This enables parents to simultaneously authorize all 10+ rated worlds, thereby obscuring 18+ worlds from preteens.
Additionally, there are no follower recommendations, and the visibility and status settings of the preteens are automatically configured to appear as “offline” to others unless parents enable them explicitly.
Furthermore, the “Personal Boundary” setting is perpetually enabled, which creates a bubble around avatars with a radius of two virtual feet, thereby preventing individuals from approaching them excessively.
The announcement results from Meta’s recent addition of the capability for parents to individually authorize contacts with whom their child can communicate and invite to participate in virtual reality experiences. Another recent update requires Meta Quest 2 or 3 headset users to re-enter their birthday before operating the device.
Parent-managed accounts for preteens have been accessible since June 2023.
Although these new safety measures have been implemented, some parents and custodians will probably continue to harbor concerns regarding Meta’s ability to safeguard their children, given the numerous allegations that the company has failed to ensure the safety of this demographic on its platforms.
Meta was found to be intentionally promoting its messaging platforms to adolescent users earlier this year, despite being aware of the inappropriate content exchanged between adults and children, according to internal documents utilized in a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Department of Justice.
Meta is accused of intentionally designing its products to attract children, which has a detrimental impact on their mental well-being, according to an additional lawsuit filed by 42 U.S. state attorneys.