Meta Permits Preteens to Access Horizon Worlds with Parental Approval

Meta is opening up new avenues for preteens to dive into the world of virtual reality with parental supervision on its VR platform, Horizon Worlds. The introduction comes with certain guidelines to ensure a safe experience.

Parents now have the option to select VR experiences tailored for kids aged 10 to 12. This includes adventures like chilling in The Space Station, wandering through The Aquarium, or getting competitive with the Spy School racing game. The process is flexible — preteens can make their own lists of virtual worlds they wish to explore, or parents can scan the options and make the choice themselves.

Safety is at the forefront of Meta’s recent updates. The platform includes a new content rating system categorized as 10+, 13+, or 18+, guiding parents toward suitable environments for their young explorers. By default, only 10+ rated worlds are visible to preteens, effectively blocking access to the mature 18+ content. Additionally, there’s no suggestion of followers, and kids are automatically set to appear “offline” — though parents have the choice to adjust this setting.

Another feature that stands firm is the “Personal Boundary” setting, which gives avatars a two-foot virtual bubble, warding off intrusions and maintaining personal space.

This move aligns with Meta’s initiative to give parents more oversight over their children’s VR interactions. Previously, the company allowed parents to authorize contacts for their kids to chat with or invite to VR experiences. More recently, they’ve added a requirement for Meta Quest 2 or 3 users to verify their birthdate prior to using the headset again.

Since June 2023, accounts managed by parents for this age group have been rolled out. However, trust in Meta’s safeguard measures remains shaky for some parents. The company has faced criticism and legal challenges over its previously inadequate protection of young users on its platforms.

Earlier in the year, documents used in a lawsuit by the New Mexico Department of Justice revealed that Meta had targeted underage users by promoting its messaging platforms, despite knowing about inappropriate interactions happening there. Another legal battle involves 42 U.S. state attorneys accusing Meta of deliberately crafting its services to reel in young users, raising concerns about the impact on their mental health.