Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced new permissions allowing children aged 10-12 to engage in virtual reality and mixed reality activities. These include sending and accepting invites, chatting, and making calls, subject to parental approval. This initiative aims to enhance family interaction while maintaining stringent safety measures, as outlined in a recent Meta Quest blog post.
The upcoming changes will enable parents to individually manage approved contacts for their children, who can then interact within approved parameters. Meta emphasizes that only contacts followed or following the child can be added, and parents retain full control over managing these connections directly from their child’s Following and Followers lists.
Meta introduced family accounts tailored for preteens in 2023, emphasizing built-in protections designed specifically for children aged 10-12. These safeguards are configured by default during account setup and may vary based on regional regulations.
The decision to expand VR and MR access for preteens reflects Meta's ongoing commitment to providing age-appropriate digital experiences while prioritizing safety and parental oversight.
