Meta is adding parental controls to all Quest VR headsets, allowing guardians to check underage users’ screen time and receive reminders or approval requests for purchases. The news comes as it expands parental control options on Instagram and new safety features on its Horizon Worlds VR social platform.
Meta’s new features are similar to the mobile version and were first introduced in March. Using these options requires linking the teen’s Facebook account with that of a parent or guardian — a Facebook account is required to use the headset.
Once the accounts are linked, adults can view all the apps the teen has and their Oculus friends list. Teens can submit requests to purchase apps blocked by the age-rating system, and adults can choose to block specific apps — including the system’s web browser. Plus, they can block Link and Air Link features that support PC VR content playback on the Quest.
Meta sees its future in virtual and augmented reality technologies rather than traditional social networks, but its executives acknowledge that user safety poses a potentially existential problem for VR social spaces. This question becomes even more pressing as Meta integrates the multi-user experience directly into the Quest’s home screen, a feature that will be released in the latest update. Horizon Home is touted as a small gathering place for friends and family — and if the family includes kids, Meta’s new features give them more control over what else they do in VR.
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