Meta Platforms recently introduced its cutting-edge mixed reality headset, the Quest 3. This innovative device, led by Mark Zuckerberg’s company, currently holds a dominant position in the market for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality products. As part of its latest development, Meta is reducing the minimum age for Meta Quest account users from 13 years to 10 years. Parents will now have the ability to create parent-managed Meta accounts for children aged 10 to 12 using Meta’s Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets, beginning later this year. It’s important to note that Meta has assured users in this age group that they will not be shown ads. Furthermore, only apps rated safe for kids will be recommended.
The parent company, Facebook, made this announcement through a blog post on Friday. The post emphasized that parents will be able to configure accounts for their 10 to 12-year-old children to use Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets, starting later this year. Preteens will require parental approval to set up an account and download apps onto these virtual reality headsets.
Meta will utilize children’s ages to ensure they have “age-appropriate experiences” within its app store, including the recommendation of suitable apps. Despite the lowered age limit, parents will still have control over the apps their children download from the Meta Quest Platform. They will also have the ability to block access to apps at any time, as stated by Meta.
To address parental concerns, Meta has implemented features that allow parents to set time limits for their children’s headset usage and schedule device breaks. Furthermore, there are options to cast VR experiences to a phone or TV screen, enabling parents to monitor the content viewed by their preteens while using the headset.
Additionally, Meta will automatically set profiles for kids aged 10 to 12 to private. This ensures that unknown individuals cannot follow preteens without their own or their parent’s approval. By default, information regarding active status and current app usage by this age group will remain hidden from others, unless the parent allows it to be shared. Furthermore, preteens will not be able to change default privacy and safety settings.
Participants in this age group will not encounter ads. Parents have the choice to determine whether their child’s data can be used to enhance Meta’s services. Additionally, parents will have the ability to delete their child’s account and related user information, according to Meta.
Meta also revealed that they are collaborating with the developer community to introduce more age-appropriate apps and games to the Meta Quest Platform for this specific age group. Currently, Meta’s social virtual reality app, Horizon Worlds, can only be accessed by individuals aged 13 and above in the US and Canada, while in Europe, users must be 18 years or older.
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.