In a noteworthy move, Meta, the social media giant, has revised its minimum age requirement for users of the Quest virtual reality headset. The age limit has been lowered from 13 to 10, allowing children as young as 10 to engage with the device. Interestingly, this change arrives amidst ongoing discussions in the US Congress regarding potential bills that aim to prohibit children under 13 from accessing social media altogether. A group of senators has introduced a bill that calls for age verification on social media platforms, the prohibition of algorithmic recommendation systems for individuals under 18, the requirement of parental or guardian consent for users under 18, and the prevention of social media access for those under 13.
According to Meta spokesperson Joe Osborne, as reported by The Verge, parental consent is required for the creation of a kid’s account, ensuring that parents have control over their child’s usage of the Quest virtual reality headset. In addition, Meta will provide recommendations only for applications deemed safe for children in that age group. Notably, children using the device will not be subjected to advertisements.
As per Meta’s blog post, the default setting for users aged 10 to 12 will ensure that their profiles and avatars remain private. This means that individuals will require explicit approval from the pre-teens or their parents before they can follow them. The blog further explains that parents will have the authority to decide whether their child can download or use specific applications. Additionally, parents retain the ability to block access to these apps at any given time, giving them control over their child’s app usage.
The blog post further stated, “In order to assist parents in making informed decisions regarding their preteens’ app usage on the Meta Quest Platform, each app will include a detailed product description page. This page will provide information on the data collected by the app and its potential uses, as well as indicate whether the app includes social features. Additionally, the age rating, supplied by the independent global agency IARC, will be prominently displayed. These measures aim to empower parents by offering comprehensive information for evaluating app suitability for their children.”
Meta has additionally announced that parents will have the authority to determine the daily duration of their child’s usage of the Quest headset. Moreover, parents will be able to cast the virtual reality experiences onto a phone or TV screen, enabling them to monitor the content their children are viewing while using the headset. These features aim to provide parents with greater control and oversight over their child’s virtual reality activities, promoting a safer and more supervised experience.
