Meta Introduces Horizon Worlds Access for Preteens with Parental Consent

Meta is stepping up its game in the virtual reality space by allowing younger users, specifically preteens, to dive into its online VR platform, Horizon Worlds. Of course, this comes with certain restrictions to ensure a safe experience.

The company has revealed that parents will soon have the ability to choose age-appropriate worlds for their children, aged between 10 and 12, to explore. This will include virtual visits to places like The Space Station, The Aquarium, or even participating in the Spy School racing game. Kids can either request access to these different worlds, or parents can hand-pick the ones they feel are suitable.

To further safeguard these young users, Meta has introduced a new rating system. Worlds are now categorized as either 10+, 13+, or 18+, helping parents quickly identify suitable content. This means parents can easily approve access to all 10+ rated environments while ensuring that 18+ worlds remain out of reach for their children. Moreover, the platform avoids suggesting followers to the kids, and by default, their status is set to “offline,” unless parents decide to change it.

Another layer of protection involves the “Personal Boundary” feature, which remains permanently on. This ensures that avatars maintain a comfortable two-foot distance from others, preventing any unwanted interactions.

Meta’s latest move builds on their previous update, allowing parents to approve who their children can chat with and invite into their VR experiences. The company also requires Meta Quest 2 or 3 users to verify their birthday before accessing the device.

Since June 2023, parents have had the option to set up managed accounts for their preteens. However, despite these initiatives, there’s still a level of skepticism among some parents and guardians about Meta’s ability to keep their young users safe, mainly due to past controversies.

Earlier in the year, Meta faced backlash over allegations that it was intentionally promoting its messaging platforms to underage users, knowing that inappropriate content was being shared between adults and minors. This came to light through internal documents used in a lawsuit by the New Mexico Department of Justice. In addition, another lawsuit involving 42 U.S. state attorneys accused Meta of deliberately designing its products to captivate children, impacting their mental health negatively.

Through these new measures, Meta hopes to address these concerns and create a safer environment for its youngest audience.