Meta has recently introduced a new feature that allows preteens, specifically those aged 10 to 12, to explore age-appropriate experiences in its online VR platform, Horizon Worlds. This move comes with certain restrictions in place, as parents will now have the ability to approve specific VR worlds for their children to access. This includes environments such as The Space Station, The Aquarium, and the Spy School racing game.
In order to ensure that preteens are protected while using Horizon Worlds, Meta has implemented additional safety measures. One of these measures is the introduction of a new rating system, which categorizes VR worlds as either 10+, 13+, or 18+. This system allows parents to easily approve all 10+ rated worlds at once, while making 18+ worlds inaccessible to preteens. Additionally, there are no follower suggestions, and preteens’ status and visibility settings are automatically set to “offline” unless parents choose to enable them.
Moreover, Meta has made the “Personal Boundary” setting a permanent feature, giving avatars a protective bubble with a radius of two virtual feet. This setting helps prevent others from getting too close to preteens while they are engaged in VR experiences. In addition to these safety measures, Meta has also introduced the ability for parents to individually approve contacts that their child can interact with and invite to join them in VR activities.
Despite the introduction of these new safety measures, there are still concerns among parents and guardians regarding Meta’s ability to protect their children. This is due to past accusations against the company for failing to safeguard underage users on its platforms. For instance, Meta has been criticized for promoting its messaging platforms to underage users, knowing that inappropriate content was being exchanged between adults and children. Lawsuits filed by various parties have also accused Meta of intentionally designing its products to attract children, which may have negative impacts on their mental well-being.
While Meta’s new safety measures for preteens on Horizon Worlds are a step in the right direction, there are still lingering doubts about the company’s ability to fully protect underage users. It remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in practice and whether Meta can address the concerns raised by parents and guardians.