Meta has announced a significant change to its Horizon Worlds platform, making it accessible to children between the ages of 10 and 12, provided they have parental approval. This new development marks a shift in how younger users can engage with virtual worlds and social platforms.
As of Wednesday, Meta will allow preteens to join Horizon Worlds, its 3D social platform designed for immersive virtual experiences. This move is part of a broader strategy to make virtual spaces more inclusive while ensuring safety and age-appropriate content for younger users.
To use Horizon Worlds, preteens must have a Meta account managed by their parents. Parents will play a crucial role in overseeing their children’s activities on the platform. They will have the ability to approve or deny access to Horizon Worlds and control which specific experiences their children can engage with.
Parents will be able to set various controls to ensure their child’s safety. For instance, experiences within Horizon Worlds will be rated according to age appropriateness. These ratings will help parents decide which experiences are suitable for their children. The platform will categorize experiences into three age groups: ages 10 and up, ages 13 and up, and ages 18 and up.
Meta has introduced several features to enhance safety for preteens. Voice chat will be disabled by default for accounts managed by parents. However, parents can choose to allow voice chat with certain contacts if they feel it is appropriate.
Additionally, preteens will appear as offline by default, unless parents adjust this setting. The personal boundary feature, which prevents other users from getting too close in the virtual space, will also be activated by default for preteen accounts.
Horizon Worlds is Meta’s 3D social platform, initially available only through virtual reality (VR) headsets. The platform offers a range of virtual experiences, from social gatherings to interactive games. Recently, Meta expanded access to some Horizon Worlds experiences via the Meta Horizon mobile app, making it more accessible without needing a VR headset.
The decision to include preteens in Horizon Worlds aligns with Meta’s broader goals of integrating more users into its virtual spaces. However, this move comes with increased responsibility to ensure that younger users have a safe and positive experience.
Meta’s approach reflects a growing trend among technology companies to involve parents in managing their children’s online activities.
The inclusion of voice chat controls and offline visibility settings highlights Meta’s commitment to protecting younger users from potential online risks. These features are designed to give parents peace of mind while allowing their children to explore virtual spaces.
The expansion of Horizon Worlds to preteens has elicited varied reactions. Supporters of the move argue that it provides an opportunity for younger users to engage with cutting-edge technology and develop digital skills in a controlled environment. They see this as a step forward in integrating virtual reality into everyday life for younger generations.
On the other hand, some critics express concerns about the potential risks associated with younger users in virtual spaces. They highlight the need for stringent measures to ensure that preteens are not exposed to inappropriate content or interactions. The effectiveness of Meta’s safety features will be closely monitored as the platform begins to accommodate younger users.
