According to advocates, Meta would expose teens and young adults to harassment and privacy violations.
Social media giant Meta has received backlash after its latest Metaverse ad. While the app metaverse Horizon Worlds currently caters to users ages 18 and older, the platform recently revealed plans to make room for users ages 13-17 as well.
Advocacy groups raise concerns
Dozens of advocacy organizations and child safety groups have already launched against Meta’s decision to allow minors access to its Metaverse app.
per Bloomberg a reportOn Friday, a letter was written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, calling on Meta to halt all such plans immediately. The report also confirms that security groups such as Fairplay, Common Sense Media, and the Center for Countering Digital Hate are among those groups that have signed the letter.
According to advocates, Meta would expose teens and young adults to harassment and privacy violations by inviting them into its virtual reality app. They reminded Meta that their implementation is only in its early stages, so first proper research is needed. The message has been partially read:
“Meta will have to wait for more peer-reviewed research on the potential risks of Metaviruses to ensure that children and teens will be safe.”
Meanwhile, the rhetoric may all relate to the March report from the Center for Combating Digital Hate. The report cited at least 19 out of 100 incidents in which minors were abused by adults within the Horizon Universe.
It may also be worth noting that this isn’t the first time Meta has been called out for the impact its products have on young people. In 2021, a Facebook whistleblower alleged that the company was more interested in turning a profit than in ensuring the safety of children, especially teenage girls.
Do you have meta-head tips?
While the Defenders have lent their votes, it remains to be seen whether or not Meta will act on their advice. According to Bloomberg, the Meta isn’t showing any signs of completely stopping its plans for a mansion in the metaverse. Instead, you might look for ways to put extra protections in place for them. A Meta spokesperson identified as Joe Osborne said:
“Before we make Horizon Worlds available to teens, we will have additional safeguards and tools in place to help provide age-appropriate experiences.”
It remains to be seen how the company will prove that it can be trusted to protect the interests of young people.
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Mayowa is a cryptocurrency writer/enthusiast and his conversational personality is quite evident in his writing style. He strongly believes in the potential of digital assets and takes every opportunity to replicate it. He is a reader, researcher, skilled speaker, and budding entrepreneur as well. Outside of cryptocurrency, Mayowa’s imaginative diversions include soccer or discussing global politics.