Experts call on Meta to stop opening Horizon Worlds to minors

According to reports, on April 14th, dozens of advocacy organizations and child safety experts signed a group letter to Meta CEO Zuckerberg, calling on Meta to end its plan to allow minors to enter its new virtual reality world. Experts believe that minors will face harassment and privacy violations in virtual reality applications, which are only in their early stages. Meta must wait for peer review to determine that children and adolescents are safe, “the letter wrote. According to the report, Meta plans to invite teenagers to join its metaverse application Horizo n Worlds in the coming months.

Experts call on Meta to stop opening Horizon Worlds to minors

I. Introduction
A. Explanation of virtual reality
B. Connection to Meta and its plan for minors
II. Concerns of Advocacy Organizations and Child Safety Experts
A. Harassment in virtual reality applications
B. Privacy violation of minors
C. Negative effects on the mental health of minors
III. Why Experts Suggest Waiting for Peer Review
A. Minors’ brain development and susceptibility to external influence
B. Lack of research on the effects of virtual reality on minors
C. Need for ethical considerations in technology development
IV. Meta’s Response to the Critics
A. Emphasis on safety measures and parental controls
B. Explanation of the benefits of virtual reality
V. Conclusion
A. Recap of the main points
B. Call for caution in implementing new technology
C. Proposal for further research and ethical considerations
##According to Reports, Advocacy Organizations and Child Safety Experts Raise Concerns Over Meta’s Plan to Allow Minors in Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that enables users to experience a simulated environment that mimics a real-world location or situation. Recently, Meta (previously known as Facebook) announced its plan to allow minors to enter its new virtual reality world called Horizon Worlds. However, on April 14th, dozens of advocacy organizations and child safety experts signed a group letter to Meta CEO Zuckerberg calling for an end to the plan.
The experts argued that minors will face harassment and privacy violations in virtual reality applications. Moreover, they expressed concerns over the potential for negative effects on the mental health of children and adolescents. These concerns raise questions about the ethical implications of allowing minors to enter virtual reality at such an early stage of its development.
Child safety advocates argue that virtual reality applications lack adequate safety measures to protect minors. Harassment and privacy violations have been reported in other areas of the internet, and experts fear that these issues will translate into the virtual world. Moreover, minors may not be equipped to handle such situations, leading to potentially problematic outcomes.
Secondly, the experts claim that virtual reality technology is only in its early stages and that there is insufficient research on the potential effects on minors. The brain development of minors makes them particularly susceptible to external influences, making it essential to exercise caution in exposing them to new technologies. Furthermore, the lack of research means that effects on minors’ mental health are not yet fully known.
Experts suggest waiting for peer review to determine that children and adolescents are safe before allowing them to enter virtual reality. The need for ethical considerations in the development of technology is paramount, and research contributes to an understanding of the potential benefits and risks. It is essential to ensure that technology development aligns with ethical principles.
In response to the critics, Meta emphasizes the safety measures and parental controls in Horizon Worlds. The company has explained the benefits of virtual reality for minors, such as increased creativity and social engagement. Meta believes that Horizon Worlds can be a safe, productive space for minors to explore the virtual world, provided the proper protections are in place.
In conclusion, while virtual reality technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we experience the world, there are serious concerns about minors’ safety. Advocacy organizations and child safety experts call for caution, and they raise valid concerns over the effects of this technology on the mental health of children and adolescents. It is imperative to develop and enforce ethical standards and to continue to research the effects of technology on individuals before they are fully implemented.
###FAQs
1. What is virtual reality technology, and how does it work?
Virtual reality technology is a tool that allows users to experience a simulated environment that mimics a real-world location or situation. It uses devices such as headsets or glasses to create the illusion of being in another world.
2. What Are the Concerns of Advocacy Organizations and Child Safety Experts over the use of virtual reality technology in minors?
Child safety advocates argue that virtual reality applications lack adequate safety measures to protect minors. Harassment and privacy violations have been reported in other areas of the internet, and experts fear that these issues will translate into the virtual world.

3. What are the benefits of virtual reality for minors?
Meta believes that Horizon Worlds can be a safe, productive space for minors to explore the virtual world, provided the proper protections are in place. The company has explained the benefits of virtual reality for minors, such as increased creativity and social engagement.
###