Meta adds parental controls to Quest VR headsets

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Meta is adding parental controls to all virtual reality headsets to make sure they are not being used by children. Along with the news, there is an expansion of parental control options on the photo sharing website and a new safety feature in its virtual reality platform.

Meta's new options are similar to the ones found on phones. It is necessary to link a teen's Facebook account with that of a parent or guardian in order to use them. Children under 13 aren't supposed to use the quest, and people under 18 can't access horizon worlds, so these features are meant for other virtual reality applications

Image: Meta

The adult can see all the apps a teen owns once the accounts are linked. Adults can block specific apps, including the system's web browser, and teens can submit requests to buy apps that are blocked by the age rating system. The Link and Air Link features can be blocked.

Meta sees its future in virtual and augmented reality tech rather than traditional social networks, but its executives have acknowledged that user safety poses a potentially "existential" problem The issue is becoming more pressing as Meta integrates multi user experiences directly into the home screen, a feature that is being released in the latest update Meta's new features offer more control over what else they're doing in virtual reality if a family includes children.