Meta Announced a major update to its Quest VR Platform. Now, users aged 10-12 can interact with others in virtual reality. However, the possibility of such activity is allowed only after getting approval from their parents. The event marked a change in Meta’s VR policy toward younger users.
Previously, kids on Quest couldn’t chat or otherwise interact with other users, now, with a future update, parents will be able to add approved contacts one by one. These contacts can chat with, call, and join VR experiences with their child. The new feature is expected to bring a social benefit to VR for kids.
It believes that introducing young users to VR has its long-term benefits, Meta says. The hope is that children using VR now will be the ones sticking around as they age. This move may further let Meta compete with Roblox and Minecraft. Both of those services are very popular among young users.
Meta VR Social Features for Parental Management
Parents have a significant say in managing accepted contacts, parents can add contacts to their child’s Following list and Followers list. Also, children may request followers to become accepted contacts. More importantly, parents can delete any accepted contact at any time.
It is reported that Meta reduced the age recommendation of its Quest headset from 13 years to 10 years last year before finally releasing parent-managed accounts. Such accounts allow children to access age-appropriate content in VR. Meta has now announced the addition of social features to the accounts.
Despite all the good work done so far, there are still unknown risks that come with VR technology. Parents, rights groups, and researchers were concerned about how children could be protected in this regard. The move by Meta will thus be done at the most appropriate time.
Congress turns up the heat on social media companies to protect kids. Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat are all in the hot seat. So, Meta’s decision to add social features to children’s accounts on Quest couldn’t have come at a worse time.
