Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to unleash a metaverse on society is facing pushback from two Democratic senators, who are demanding he spare teens from the experience.
“Meta has failed over and over to protect young users,” Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts wrote in a tweet. “Now, they want to bring more kids as young as 13 onto the metaverse without ensuring their safety. They have to stop.”
On Wednesday, Markey and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter to Zuckerberg, opposing the company’s reported plan to bring the virtual reality app, Horizon Worlds, to users between the ages of 13 and 17.
Horizon Worlds is already available for adults, and it represents Meta’s main social VR app. But interest in the VR experience remains low. So to spark engagement, Meta is looking to open up Horizon Worlds to teens, according to The Wall Street Journal, which notes the launch could occur as soon as this month.
In response, Sens. Markey and Blumenthal are demanding Meta halt the launch. In their letter, the lawmakers imply Zuckerberg is essentially desperate "to salvage Meta’s struggling metaverse” by resorting to focus on teens.
“Meta’s plan to target young people with offerings in the metaverse is particularly concerning in light of your consistent failures to protect young users,” the senators wrote. As evidence, the lawmakers point to research that allegedly shows Meta’s Instagram app can have a negative effect on teenage girls’ mental health. “Other reports have documented Meta’s failure to stop ads for tobacco, alcohol, and eating disorder content from targeting teens,” the letter says.
In addition, Markey and Blumenthal fear teens who enter Horizon Worlds will face bullying and harassment, along with exposure to sexual content. “Any strategy to invite young users into a digital space rife with potential harms should not be driven by a goal to maximize profit,” the senators wrote.
Meta declined to comment on the senators’ letter. But the company noted the Quest VR platform “has always been designed for people ages 13+, so it makes sense we’d plan to introduce experiences for that audience in Horizon.”
Meta didn't say when it will expand Horizon Worlds to teens, but insists that safeguards will be in place when it does. “Teens are already spending time in a variety of VR experiences on Quest and we want to ensure that we can provide them with a great experience in Horizon Worlds as well, with age-appropriate tools and protections in place,” the company added.