Meta is now opening up its virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds, to preteens with parent-managed accounts, allowing them to explore a variety of experiences under certain limitations.
The tech giant revealed that it’s rolling out the ability for parents to authorize access to specific, age-appropriate worlds for their children between the ages of 10 and 12. This means that kids can now dive into exciting realms like The Space Station, wander through The Aquarium, or jump into the action with the Spy School racing game. Kids can either request access to these worlds themselves or parents can proactively pick and choose the ones they feel are suitable.
To keep young explorers safe, Meta has put additional protective measures in place. They’ve introduced a new rating system that categorizes VR worlds as 10+, 13+, or 18+, helping parents easily identify which are suitable for younger audiences. Parents can quickly approve all worlds rated 10+, and any 18+ content is automatically hidden from preteens. Further boosting privacy, no follower suggestions are made for these users, and their online status is set to “offline” by default—unless parents choose otherwise.
Moreover, a “Personal Boundary” feature is permanently activated, creating a protective space around avatars, ensuring no one gets too close for comfort.
This comes on the heels of another Meta initiative allowing parents to approve individual contacts for their children, ensuring safe interactions within VR. Additionally, users of the Meta Quest 2 or 3 headsets are prompted to enter their birthday each time they want to use the device.
Since June 2023, these parent-managed accounts have been available for preteens.
However, despite these steps, some parents may still harbor skepticism about Meta’s ability to safeguard their children. This concern stems from past allegations that the company has fallen short in protecting this age demographic across its platforms.
Earlier this year, Meta faced scrutiny over internal documents that suggested the company was deliberately marketing its messaging platforms to underaged users, despite knowing about inappropriate exchanges between adults and children. This was highlighted in a lawsuit from the New Mexico Department of Justice. Moreover, another legal challenge involving 42 U.S. state attorneys accused Meta of purposefully crafting its products to lure young users, potentially harming their mental health in the process.
