Tech giant Meta is making way for greater VR functionality for young users.
The company raised eyebrows last year when it reduced the age restrictions for its Quest headsets. And now, the tech giant has confirmed that kids can interact with others in VR.
Thankfully, the feature will only work if and when parental consent is attained so first they must approve their 10 to 12-year-old kids to call, text, and enjoy a host of other VR functionalities via Quest.
In the past, this was not allowed for minors, nor were they allowed to offer invitations for games. Clearly, things are changing drastically on this front.
Before, Quest headsets were only available to those who were 13 years old and above. But Meta changed that so others could be included, ensuring they remained safe on the platform by ensuring their parents or guardians were always aware of what was happening.
Only after approval and consent can a child make their Meta account which parents would be in control of at all times. Interestingly, the company has made it clear that no ads would be displayed as a default in the system, making sure kids are guarded.
Moreover, they would only be provided with recommendations for other games and apps that are suitable for their age.
This change comes at a time when we see the federal government ramping up scrutiny for child safety through Meta’s apps and beyond, including TikTok, Snap, and Discord.
At the start of 2024, Meta’s CEO also testified before the Senate and therefore vowed to ensure child safety bills were made a top priority for all the apps owned by the company. This includes spending millions on the likes of lobbying so that it’s in line with the many rules and regulations put out by the federal government.
Image: DIW-Aigen
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The company raised eyebrows last year when it reduced the age restrictions for its Quest headsets. And now, the tech giant has confirmed that kids can interact with others in VR.
Thankfully, the feature will only work if and when parental consent is attained so first they must approve their 10 to 12-year-old kids to call, text, and enjoy a host of other VR functionalities via Quest.
In the past, this was not allowed for minors, nor were they allowed to offer invitations for games. Clearly, things are changing drastically on this front.
Before, Quest headsets were only available to those who were 13 years old and above. But Meta changed that so others could be included, ensuring they remained safe on the platform by ensuring their parents or guardians were always aware of what was happening.
Only after approval and consent can a child make their Meta account which parents would be in control of at all times. Interestingly, the company has made it clear that no ads would be displayed as a default in the system, making sure kids are guarded.
Moreover, they would only be provided with recommendations for other games and apps that are suitable for their age.
This change comes at a time when we see the federal government ramping up scrutiny for child safety through Meta’s apps and beyond, including TikTok, Snap, and Discord.
At the start of 2024, Meta’s CEO also testified before the Senate and therefore vowed to ensure child safety bills were made a top priority for all the apps owned by the company. This includes spending millions on the likes of lobbying so that it’s in line with the many rules and regulations put out by the federal government.
Read next: Most Subscription Sites Influence Customer Behavior Through Dark Patterns, Alarming Study Reveals
