Meta Opens Horizon Worlds to Preteens with Parental Controls
A New Era of Family-Friendly VR
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Meta is taking a step towards making its virtual reality platform, Horizon Worlds, more accessible to younger users. Starting soon, preteens aged 10 to 12 will be able to explore the immersive world of Horizon Worlds under the watchful eye of their parents. This move comes with a suite of new safety features and parental controls designed to ensure a positive and age-appropriate experience for young users.
Curated Experiences for Young Explorers
Parents will have the power to approve specific worlds within Horizon Worlds that they deem suitable for their preteen children. These curated experiences range from educational adventures like exploring The Space Station and The Aquarium, to exciting activities like participating in The Space Station and The Aquarium. This curated selection ensures that preteens are exposed to engaging and age-appropriate content within the virtual world.
Enhanced Safety Measures for a Secure Experience
Meta has implemented several new safety features to protect young users in Horizon Worlds. These include:
Age Verification and Parental Controls
Parents will have granular control over their preteen’s experience, including the ability to approve contacts, manage chat settings, and monitor activity within the platform. This level of oversight ensures that parents remain actively involved in their children’s virtual interactions.
Personal Boundaries for Virtual Safety
The “Personal Boundary” setting is automatically enabled for all preteen users, creating a two-foot radius around their avatars that prevents other users from getting too close. This feature helps to establish a sense of personal space and safety within the virtual environment.
Preteens will have limited social interaction capabilities, preventing them from engaging in open chat with strangers or joining public events without parental approval. This restriction minimizes the risk of exposure to inappropriate content or interactions.
Addressing Concerns and Building Trust
Despite these new safety measures, some parents may still harbor concerns about Meta’s ability to protect children on its platforms. Recent controversies surrounding data privacy and the spread of harmful content have understandably raised questions about the company’s commitment to user safety.
Meta acknowledges these concerns and emphasizes its ongoing efforts to improve safety features and build trust with parents. The company has pledged to be transparent about its policies and practices, and to actively engage with parents and experts to develop solutions that prioritize child safety.
