Meta's VR headsets are now more accessible to kids.
The Menlo Park-based tech giant announced it is lowering the age limit for parent-managed Meta accounts for Meta Quest 2 and 3, allowing parents to set up accounts for their prepubescent children.
Meta also revealed it is introducing additional tools and resources that provide age-appropriate VR experiences to prepubescent kids that parents can easily manage.
Meta Age Limit Change Details
Meta mentioned in its announcement it is lowering its age limit for Meta accounts for Meta Quest 2 and 3 from 13 to 10 years old, allowing parents of kids 10 to 12 to set up parent-managed Meta accounts for the previously mentioned VR headsets.
Although Meta didn't provide a reason why it lowered the age limit in its announcement, it can be assumed that the company wants its VR headsets to become more accessible and available for prepubescent kids to use. The devices come with "a vast array of engaging and educational apps, games, and more across [Meta's] platform," most of which the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and International Age Rating Coalition rated for ages ten and up.
However, this lowering does come with some caveats parents and kids must adhere to. For instance, preteens must acquire their parents' consent and approval to set up a parent-managed account, which will give parents control over the apps their kids can download from the company's app store.
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In addition to this measure, Meta will provide parents with information to help them decide whether Meta's VR headsets are right for their child. It is also introducing new tools and resources that ensure preteens have a comfortable and safe VR experience while using them.
New Meta Quest Age-Appropriate Settings
Meta mentioned it's adding time limit controls and casting to parent-managed Meta accounts, allowing them to manage how long their preteen can use the headset each day and schedule breaks from their device. It is also offering the ability to cast VR experiences to a phone or TV screen, allowing them to monitor what their kids view while using the headset.
Parent-managed Meta Horizon profiles are also set to private automatically, allowing parents to manage who their preteens follow online. Similarly, active status and current app usage by preteens will be hidden from others by default unless parents choose to allow such information to be shared.
Lastly, Meta promised it would use the information it collects about preteens through its Meta Quest products to deliver age-appropriate experiences - ads won't be available and parents can choose if Meta can use their child's data to improve the experience. They can also delete their child's account and all the data associated with it.
Lastly, Meta mentioned it's investing in its Family Center to provide parents with an easier time managing their family's online experiences across the company's technologies. Interestingly, the Family Center is also the place for parents to set up an account for their preteens.
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