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Two U.S. senators have written a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging him to cease the corporate’s proposed launch of its Horizon Worlds metaverse app for teenagers aged 13 to 17, based on the Wall Avenue Journal.
“In gentle of your organization’s document of failure to guard kids and youths and a rising physique of proof pointing to threats to younger customers within the metaverse, we urge you to halt this plan instantly,”
the WSJ cited the letter from senators Ed Markey (D., Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.).
To increase its consumer base, Meta had deliberate to open its Horizon Worlds metaverse app to youngsters this month. Horizon Worlds is a platform the place customers can create and discover digital worlds utilizing avatars.
Sens. Markey and Blumenthal have expressed apprehension concerning Meta’s plan to launch Horizon Worlds for youngsters because of the firm’s unfavorable previous with merchandise designed for children. The senators referred to a flaw in Messenger Youngsters that enabled kids between the ages of 6 and 12 to evade the app’s age restrictions and talk with strangers. In addition they identified that Meta has beforehand failed to forestall ads selling tobacco, alcohol, and consuming problems from reaching teenagers.
Senators Markey and Blumenthal have raised much more considerations in regards to the potential dangers that youngsters might face within the metaverse. They’ve identified private information assortment associated to facial and eye actions when utilizing a VR headset, in addition to bodily well being points like nausea and eye pressure.
Meta spokesperson stated eye-tracking and face-tracking options are completely out there on the corporate’s Quest Professional VR headset, which prices $1,500. In line with the spokesperson, the corporate has carried out a number of safeguards on this product to keep away from any privateness infringement associated to facial or eye monitoring.
The senators have additionally highlighted the potential of publicity to abusive conduct, similar to bullying, threats, and sexual content material. They’ve referred to analysis carried out by the Heart for Countering Digital Hate and Widespread Sense Media to help their claims. Senator Markey acknowledged that Meta can’t at the moment defend younger individuals on its platforms and subsequently has no proper to show extra teenagers to the uncertainties of the metaverse.
A report by consulting agency Bain & Firm sheds gentle on the preferences of younger avid gamers aged 13-17 and the influence of the metaverse on the gaming trade. The report reveals that whereas grownup avid gamers stay considerably cautious of the metaverse, teenagers are extra keen about residing in a digital world.
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