Meta plans to lower the minimum age requirement for its Quest headsets from 13 to 10, according to a spokesperson named Joe Osborne. The company aims to publish a blog post soon to share more details about this change. To ensure child safety, parents will need to approve the creation of a kid’s account, and Meta assures that kids will not be exposed to ads. The company also intends to recommend only age-appropriate apps for this younger age group. Additionally, the default settings for 10 to 12-year-old users will prioritize privacy, making their profiles and avatars private by default. Following preteens on Meta will require their or their parents’ approval, with parents having the option to disable this safety feature. The social platform, Horizon Worlds, will remain restricted to users aged 13 and above, at least for now.
Meta’s decision to lower the age requirement likely stems from the recognition that children have an interest in using VR headsets. By providing a more controlled experience, Meta aims to prevent underage users from falsely misrepresenting their age. It is also possible that Meta wants to proactively address any potential legal issues or fines, such as the recent $520 million penalty imposed on Epic Games by the FTC. In that case, it was found that Epic Games was aware that many children were playing Fortnite. By offering an option specifically for underage users with strict parental controls, Meta can demonstrate its commitment to user safety.
However, Meta acknowledges that this decision may invite scrutiny and potential backlash, potentially resulting in critical letters from the Senate. To maintain confidentiality, the company implemented internal measures, including requiring employees involved in the project, internally known as “Project Salsa,” to sign separate legal disclosures and designate documents as “A/C privilege” in case of regulatory inquiries from entities like the FTC.