According to a report from Bloomberg, Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Meta, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is facing backlash from advocacy organizations and children’s safety experts who are urging the company to cancel its plans of allowing minors to access its new virtual reality world, Horizon Worlds.
Child safety concerns in the Metaverse
Led by online safety groups like Fairplay, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, and Common Sense Media, a letter addressed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlights the potential risks and dangers for children and teenagers in the virtual world.
These groups argue that minors could be exposed to harassment and privacy violations, especially since the app is still in its early stages. They urge the company to wait for more peer-reviewed research on the potential risks associated with the metaverse before allowing children and teens to access it.
A March report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate revealed that users under 18 have already faced harassment from adults on the app.
During 100 visits to the most popular worlds within Horizon Universe, the center’s researchers witnessed 19 episodes of abuse directed at minors by adults, including sexual harassment.
Meta’s response and future plans
Meta spokesperson Joe Osborne stated that before making Horizon Worlds accessible to teenagers, the company will put additional protections and tools in place to provide age-appropriate experiences.
Meta encourages parents and caretakers to use parental supervision tools, such as managing access to apps, to ensure safe experiences for their children. Currently, the minimum age requirement for the Metaverse app is 18.
Despite Meta’s assurances, the company has faced widespread scrutiny over the effects of its products on the mental health of young users.
In 2021, a Facebook whistleblower accused the company of prioritizing profits over safety and failing to protect children, particularly teenage girls who spent excessive amounts of time on Instagram.
Research on the issue remains divided, with some studies linking high levels of social media engagement to depression in minors, while others find little correlation.
Growing pressure on Meta
Child safety advocates and internet watchdogs have called on Mark Zuckerberg to halt plans to allow children aged 13 to 17 into the virtual world.
A coalition of 36 digital advocacy groups, including Fair Play for Kids and Common Sense Media, warned that the virtual universe could amplify the worst aspects of social media for teenage users.
They argued that virtual reality apps on Meta’s Horizon Worlds were already being filled with potentially abusive content.
The letter to Zuckerberg stated, “Parents would be shocked to learn what’s going on behind the closed doors of Horizon Worlds, where kids and teens are being assaulted with abusive conduct and harmful content.”
Meta has invested billions in the technology and VR products like the Quest Pro, with Horizon Worlds as its flagship virtual reality app for the headset. Although the app is currently limited to users over 18, other apps are listed as suitable for users as young as 13.
As the debate surrounding the safety of children and teenagers in the virtual world continues, it remains to be seen how the company will address these concerns and ensure the well-being of its young users.
