Meta Reduces Age Recommendation for Quest Headset from 13 to 10
Meta is broadening the reach of Quest headsets by welcoming preteens to join the community. The social media giant plans to reduce the minimum age for Quest 2 and 3 accounts from 13 to 10 in the near future, with the introduction of parent-managed accounts. Children will require their parents’ consent to establish accounts, install applications, and restrict access to existing software. Parents will also be able to establish time restrictions.
The company says it will implement strict data protection controls. Meta offers “age-specific” app store experiences, such as recommendations if parents volunteer their child’s age. However, it does not serve ads to children, and parents can choose whether or not the data is used to improve the user experience. Meta Horizon profiles of these younger users are private by default and require approval for following and active status updates. Horizon Worlds still requires users to be at least 13 years old.
Meta describes this as a blessing for education. This could offer children virtual science lessons and a range of educational games, the company says. Most learning materials in the store are rated for ages 10 and up, so there shouldn’t be a shortage of material.
Whether or not the launch is problem-free is another matter. Meta’s policies theoretically comply with COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), which prohibits the collection of personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. New York Times sources claim that Meta is already discussing its plans with regulators. However, there are concerns about safety. VR applications, especially social ones, are sometimes prone to creep, harassment and similar abuses. Meta may not be able to protect young users from what happens inside third-party apps.
There is also the question of whether it is healthy for children to use VR headsets. As Duke University optometrist Dr. Nathan Cheung explains to ZDNet, these wearables can cause eye and neck strain, which can be especially problematic for children with smaller bodies and developing eyes. There is also a lack of definitive research on how VR can affect depth perception and focus. The technology is definitely not dangerous for children, but its safety is not guaranteed either.
