{"id":68005,"date":"2023-04-28T01:25:06","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T05:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=68005"},"modified":"2023-04-28T01:25:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T05:25:06","slug":"children-have-been-interacting-in-the-metaverse-for-years-what-parents-need-to-know-about-keeping-them-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/children-have-been-interacting-in-the-metaverse-for-years-what-parents-need-to-know-about-keeping-them-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Children have been interacting in the metaverse for years \u2013 what parents need to know about keeping them safe"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The metaverse sounds like it could be a scary place. Recent\u00a0headlines<\/a>\u00a0have highlighted the dangers to children of the metaverse \u2013 a generic term for the range of online virtual worlds, developed by different tech companies, in which users can interact. Children\u2019s charities\u00a0have raised concerns<\/a>\u00a0about its potential for harm.<\/p>\n

Recently, Meta \u2013 Facebook\u2019s parent company \u2013\u00a0announced that teenagers<\/a>\u00a0would be able to use its\u00a0VR Horizon Worlds app<\/a>\u00a0in North America. In this online environment, users are represented by avatars and spend time in virtual worlds, making use of virtual reality (VR) headsets. Some politicians in the US have already voiced their unease. It is certainly possible that Meta could extend this access to teens elsewhere in the world.<\/p>\n

It would be no surprise if parents\u00a0were concerned<\/a>\u00a0about this technology and how it might affect their children. In fact, children are already online in the metaverse \u2013 and there are steps parents can take to understand this technology, the risks it may pose, and what they can do.<\/p>\n

Avatars and online games<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Perhaps the most famous current interactive world aimed at children is\u00a0Roblox<\/a>, an online platform that allows users to create avatars, play games, make their own games, and interact with others. Young people play games developed by other users \u2013 the\u00a0most popular<\/a>\u00a0is currently\u00a0Adopt Me!<\/a>, in which players adopt animals and live with them in a virtual world.<\/p>\n

This mix of gameplay, interaction with others, and opportunity for creativity are all reasons Roblox is so popular. While it can be played\u00a0using VR headsets<\/a>, the vast majority of interaction takes place using more traditional devices such as phones, tablets and laptops.<\/p>\n

Another emerging platform,\u00a0Zepeto<\/a>, has a similar model of allowing users to create environments, access \u201cworlds\u201d developed by others, and chat with others within these environments. Some young people will interact solely with their own group of friends in a specific world; other worlds will allow interaction with people they don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

However, there is a rich history of platforms that could be considered, in modern terminology, to be \u201cmetaverses\u201d. One is\u00a0Minecraft<\/a>, perhaps the most popular platform before Roblox. Launched in 2011, Minecraft is a block-building game which also allows for interaction with other users.<\/p>\n

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No matter what the weather is like outside your window, you and your friends can hang out in a magical snow-filled winter wonderland.<\/p>\n

“Snowballer Simulator” by @WhoseTrade<\/a>: https:\/\/t.co\/GJwYnl7XXZ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HlBmIL2OZZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Roblox (@Roblox) January 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n