The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), a government think tank for the European Union, recently released a communication discussing the potential and obstacles faced by children in the metaverse.
According to Maria Niestadt, a policy analyst at the EPRS, the metaverse has the capacity to enhance children’s creativity, motivation to learn, and even aid in their recovery from illnesses. It also offers opportunities for cultural and social experiences that may otherwise be inaccessible to them.
However, the EPRS highlights several challenges that the EU must confront. These include safeguarding children from negative mental and physical consequences associated with the use of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality headsets, as well as addressing security and privacy concerns.
Opportunities in the Metaverse
The letter from the EPRS asserts that the metaverse presents numerous opportunities for children. While it does not wholeheartedly endorse the use of virtual and mixed-reality headsets by children, the think tank puts forth several claims about their positive applications. According to the EPRS:
– Children can benefit from educational experiences, such as virtual immersion in historically and culturally significant lessons.
– Positive social interactions can be fostered through the metaverse.
Challenges in the Metaverse
Despite the abundance of opportunities, the EPRS recognizes the various challenges that must be overcome to protect EU children from potential harms associated with metaverse technology. The primary concerns revolve around the negative effects that exposure to digital worlds and related hardware can have on children’s mental and physical well-being. These include social and real-world isolation, exposure to harassment and inappropriate communication, as well as feelings of nausea, anxiety, and fear.
Determining the appropriate age for children to access the metaverse poses a legislative challenge. Currently, the EPRS suggests that private sector manufacturers should take responsibility for establishing age limits.
Overall, the state of the metaverse in the European Union appears to be in a state of transition as regulators explore future strategies while relying on the private sector to self-regulate based on existing laws and internal company guidelines.
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