As a preteen, I experienced the early days of social media with minimal restrictions, but now regulations and the consequences of not having them are pervasive. Meta recently announced the opening of Horizon Worlds to preteens with parent-approved access to a Meta account, allowing children aged 10 to 12 to explore various virtual reality worlds with age ratings. Safety features include disabled voice chat, no follow suggestions, automatic offline status, and parental control over personal boundaries. Despite these measures, concerns remain about Meta’s commitment to child safety, given their track record of disregarding young people’s well-being. Lawsuits across the US have accused Meta of hooking teenagers onto its platforms and neglecting child protection concerns. A deep dive into Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decisions highlights the company’s failure to prioritize child safety, including minimal action against adult predators on Facebook and Instagram. Affiliate links are included in this article, and any purchases made through them may earn a commission.
