Meta Introduces Horizon Worlds for Preteens with Parental Consent

Meta is now opening up new opportunities for preteens to explore its Horizon Worlds virtual reality (VR) platform, albeit with some parental controls and restrictions ensuring a safer environment.

In a recent announcement, Meta shared that parents will soon have the power to decide which worlds within the VR environment are suitable for their 10 to 12-year-olds. This means kids can have adventures in places like The Space Station, dive into The Aquarium, or speed through the Spy School racing game. Preteens can either make a request to visit specific worlds, or parents can proactively choose which experiences to unlock for them.

To further ensure safety, Meta has rolled out a series of protective measures. Notably, there’s a new content rating system—10+, 13+, or 18+—that helps categorize which virtual worlds are suited for younger audiences. This feature conveniently allows parents to approve all 10+ rated worlds collectively, ensuring any 18+ content remains hidden from preteens. Importantly, there are no follower suggestions, and unless a parent decides otherwise, the visibility status of preteens defaults to “offline,” offering another layer of privacy.

Moreover, the “Personal Boundary” setting is always active, creating a virtual space around avatars that keeps others from encroaching too closely, enhancing the sense of personal space.

This development follows Meta’s earlier enhancement that enabled parents to approve each contact their children might chat with or invite into virtual experiences. They’ve also introduced a precautionary update where anyone using a Meta Quest 2 or 3 headset is prompted to re-enter their birthdate before accessing the device.

Parent-managed accounts for these younger users have been on offer since June 2023. While these steps represent strides towards safety, some parents still harbor skepticism about Meta’s ability to protect children, given past criticisms and controversies.

Earlier this year, Meta faced backlash, notably being accused of deliberately marketing its messaging platforms to minors despite knowing of inappropriate interactions on these channels, according to internal documents cited in a legal case brought by the New Mexico Department of Justice. Furthermore, a lawsuit involving 42 U.S. state attorneys claims Meta’s product designs are meant to lure children, potentially harming their mental health.