Metaverse: learn how to ensure child safety – 04/13/2023 – Tech

British researchers witnessed scenes of bullying, sexual harassment and abusive speech against children in the VRChat World metaverse. This virtual world allows you to talk anonymously with strangers, as is possible in chat rooms and social networks on the conventional internet.

Metaverses are digital spaces that allow interaction between multiple users — as if the social network gained a three-dimensional version. Access to these worlds is possible via computer, cell phone or virtual reality devices.

Specialists in immersive technologies Catherine Allen and Verity McIntosh worked with examples from the United Kingdom, where 9% of the population accesses metaverses – of this fraction, 43% use virtual reality devices. Today, there is no official data in Brazil on access to simulator glasses, according to the Internet Management Committee.

They produced the report “Safeguarding the Metaverse” (Safeguarding the Metaverse, in free translation) for an institute that tries to influence public policies of the British government on technology – the IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology, in free translation). The study was presented on Safer Internet Day (February 7).

According to the material, parental supervision is more difficult on virtual reality devices than on screen internet browsing. One solution is to use the glasses only with active television broadcasting.

Allen and McIntosh also recommend that children avoid prolonged use of virtual reality devices and do not use them two hours before going to sleep. Turning off the device suddenly is also contraindicated.

McIntosh told the report that some metaverses, like Fortnite and Roblox, have good child protection policies when compared to VRChat. According to her, access to these platforms must be planned by the family to balance autonomy and security.

Meta, as well as other manufacturers of virtual reality devices, recommend the use of this technology only for children over 13 years old, complying with legislation in developed countries such as the United States and England.

Simulator glasses are not yet on official sale in Brazil, although it is possible to find the imported version of Meta Quest 2 on marketplaces for prices around R$ 3,000 —in the United States, it costs US$ 399 (R$ 2,076, at current prices) ).

Sought, Meta, indicated the reading of its parental control manual on the Meta Quest 2 virtual reality glasses. The functionality allows blocking applications, limiting the time of use, accessing the list of followers and enabling program download notifications.

Big tech also recommended reading a publication about privacy on the device. Meta Play 2 can capture eye movement information, which can be turned off at the user’s discretion.

The director of prevention and assistance at the organization Safernet Brasil Rodrigo Nejm argues that notions of media literacy in virtual and augmented reality should be taught in schools. “Children can grow up in these environments, develop skills, but they need to understand risky situations.”

The SuperGeeks programming school, for example, uses Roblox to teach programming to children and teenagers. This metaverse aimed at children allows the development of new games and programs within the virtual world.

According to the coordinator of the ICT Kids Online Brasil survey, Luisa Adib, access to devices and information is uneven in the country. While almost 100% of children aged 9 to 17 with family incomes above R$7,100 already had access to the internet, this number drops to 86% for children in families with incomes of up to R$2,900.

In Brazil, virtual reality technologies need to comply with the determinations of the ECA (Child and Adolescent Statute), the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet and the guidelines of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (approved in Comment No. 25, of 2021). The rights of minors must also be respected in virtual environments.

The specialists heard by the report indicate that, according to the Brazilian norm, the indicative classification for virtual reality and metaverse devices would be in 12 years, as it is for social networks.

The challenge is to make this norm respected. In the country, 92% of children and adolescents aged between nine and 17 access social networks.

Nejm, from Safernet, points out that children and caregivers need to develop a general cybersecurity repertoire. “You can adapt these fundamentals to the platform or program at the time, to avoid data leaks, hate speech and overexposure.”

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE OF VIRTUAL REALITY FOR CHILDREN

• Limit children’s use of virtual reality devices to a maximum of 15 minutes a day

• In longer sessions take breaks every 15 minutes

• Do not leave the device too quickly or unexpectedly

• Always move furniture and objects away

• Do not let children use virtual reality unsupervised and whenever possible use the function to reproduce the images of the device

• It’s hard for adults to supervise children

• Do not use virtual reality an hour or two before bed, because it can disrupt sleep

• Include virtual reality in family screen time management

The report on security in the metaverse says that these practices are indicated by the manufacturers themselves.

HOW TO TURN ON PARENTAL CONTROL IN META QUEST 2

Teenagers need to invite their parents to connect to the Meta account linked to their device. Parents can also invite the teenager to participate in the Family Center mobile application, also from Meta. More information about the program can be found at this link.

Parents can then authorize access to applications whose indicative classification is beyond the youth’s age. It is also possible to block applications that would otherwise be allowed.

Parents can also know when their children buy applications and consult the list of friends shown on the virtual reality device.