Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to lower the recommended age for its Quest headset to 10 from 13. In a blog post, Meta stated that it would require parental approval for preteens to set up an account and that young users would only have access to age-appropriate apps and content. However, this move raises concerns about privacy and safety for parents and global watchdogs.
Meta is currently discussing its plans with regulators to address these concerns and ensure the safety of younger children using the headset. The company aims to create a safe and positive experience for young people and is committed to building a metaverse where families can use and enjoy Meta Quest.
The use of technology by teenagers and children has long been a controversial issue. Recently, the United States surgeon general issued a warning about the risks of social media to young people, urging policymakers to limit their access to protect their mental health and privacy.
Virtual reality is a relatively new field with emerging risks. Harassment, bullying, and hate speech are already prevalent in virtual reality games, and reporting mechanisms for such misbehavior are limited. Recognizing these concerns, regulators have taken action, with the Federal Trade Commission cracking down on tech companies for violating children’s privacy laws.
Meta and its platforms have drawn particular attention from regulators. The F.T.C. is considering action to prevent Meta from profiting off the data of young users on all its platforms, including Instagram and Horizon Worlds. Further, Meta’s focus on building a virtual reality-based version of the metaverse has become crucial to its future. Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s CEO, has committed billions of dollars to expand Reality Labs and develop the metaverse.
Despite the challenges and controversies, Meta remains committed to the metaverse. Zuckerberg assured employees of his commitment to virtual reality and augmented reality plans, emphasizing that realizing this vision will require time and effort.
Lowering the minimum age requirement for the Quest headset is part of Meta’s strategy to familiarize younger audiences with the metaverse, similar to how Facebook initially targeted college campuses in its early years. By integrating itself into young people’s lives, Meta aims to create a user base that will continue to use its technology as they grow up, following the successful strategies of other gaming companies.
However, critics argue that Meta has been continually lowering the age of its virtual reality products without sufficient evidence of their safety for young people. They raise concerns about Meta’s business-driven motives rather than prioritizing children’s needs.
To address these concerns, Meta is working on implementing parental controls to ensure the safety of young users. These controls may include time limits, parent-managed content and app controls, and privacy settings to prevent unauthorized following in Horizon Worlds. Meta also commits to using data from preteens to deliver an age-appropriate experience but will not serve ads to this age group. Parents will have the option to delete their children’s profiles and associated data.
Overall, Meta’s decision to lower the recommended age for the Quest headset raises important questions about privacy, safety, and the ethical considerations regarding young people’s use of virtual reality technology. The company’s plans to implement parental controls aim to address these concerns and create a safer environment for young users.
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