Virtual reality and child safety
The term “metaverse” might sound like something dreamed up in films like The Matrix or Ready Player One. But with companies like Facebook investing heavily in creating this virtual world, it is time to start taking it seriously. So, what is “the metaverse”? And do we really understand the implications it will have on child safety? We take a closer look.
What is “the Metaverse?
What is “the Metaverse?
Simply put, the idea behind “the metaverse” is virtual online worlds that continue to exist even when you are not tapped into them. A misconception is that “the metaverse” will only be accessible through virtual or augmented reality. However, popular online PC and console games, such as Fortnite and Overwatch are already referring to themselves as “the metaverse”.
Roblox
If you’ve ever heard of Second Life or Roblox you are already on the right path to understanding “the metaverse”. Second Life is widely seen as pioneering the concept. The online virtual world was launched in 2003. Users can create their own avatar, make friends and collaborate in a seemingly endless universe. What really sets it apart from other more focused online games is that there is actual real estate involved. You are even encouraged to trade real money for digital currency to spend in-game. It was so popular that at one-point companies as big as Coca Cola were investing in advertising their products on the platform.
Should I worry about children accessing “the metaverse”?
We are not here to tell you “the metaverse” is bad per say. But when it comes to child online safety we think there are some things to be aware of and watch out for.
As virtual reality headsets sales have shown, the chances are children and young people will be the first to start regularly using “the metaverse”. So, as a parent it is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with what young people are getting themselves into.
Criminal and sexual exploitation online
As with any open-to-all space, young people are at risk of bullying or people looking to befriend, manipulate and abuse them. It is harder to spot when it is online, and to make matter worse, virtual reality technology is moving too fast for the legal safeguards currently in place.
There have been reports of grooming on the online battle royale game Fortnite. In 2021 a nine-year-old boy was groomed on the platform by a man that told him he would be banned from the game if he didn’t meet him. Luckly, a relative intervened before the boy got into the man’s car. But not all of these stories end so positively.
What are some of the virtual reality worlds out there?
Although not as popular as first expected, Horizon worlds is a free virtual reality online video game produced by Meta, formerly known as Facebook. It is supposed to be for people above the age of 18, but there have been numerous reports of people coming across children as young as 12. The age checks are supposed to be tied to your Facebook account but that isn’t stopping young people. Some use their parents accounts, others lie about their age. This lack of age enforcement is making it possible to provide a potentially more hidden space for perpetrators of criminal and sexual exploitation to groom young people.
Another example is VRChat. The creators describe it as offering ‘an endless collection of social VR experiences by giving the power of creation to its communities’. The age restriction is 13 and above, but some of the content people have discovered on there is very much of an adult nature. Last year a BBC investigation revealed that there were no age checks for users to access pole dancing and strip clubs in the app.
Keeping children safe online
Young people should be able to be creative, personal and expressive, without threats from bullies or people looking to befriend, manipulate and abuse them. We fight for this right by spreading the word of online safety and working with children at risk of being groomed online.
What else can I do to keep young people safe?
If you have bought a Virtual Reality headset for your children, have a go yourself. Young people are more likely to open up about what they are doing and who they are speaking to if they think you understand.
Show them they can trust you and don’t judge. It is important to take an interest in their online friends as much as you would their offline friends. Ask them about how they use VR. Do they already know something about staying safe online? Make sure they know that they shouldn’t be sharing personal information and show them how they can report someone they think is behaving inappropriately.
There should be safety features for the VR device or the games they are accessing. Here you can set parental and privacy controls to what you feel comfortable with.
And even if you don’t have a VR headset, this advice applies to pretty much anything online. If you're worried, the best thing you can do is learn about online safety. We also have a booklet on how to spot the signs of online exploitation.
Author: Edward Herbert
