Generation VR: the children who will spend 10yrs in the Metaverse

The figure supports the IET’s new ‘Safeguarding the Metaverse’ report – which explores both the opportunities and potential harms of the new digital realm – launched to coincide with the latest reading in parliament of the UK Government’s new Online Safety Bill. The report is co-authored by Catherine Allen, Limina Immersive and Verity McIntosh, University of the West of England.

The IET is calling on politicians and policy makers to ensure comprehensive measures for regulating activity taking place within VR and the metaverse are included within the final Bill – a major gap which has implications for online safety such as harassment and abuse.

Despite the ‘metaverse’ being a relatively new term, it’s clear a new virtual reality is on the horizon. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg has stated his goal of achieving one billion users by 2030, and other Silicon Valley giants like Google and Microsoft also continue to invest and innovate in this space.

However, the IET’s new research reveals almost two thirds (62%) of parents of children aged 5-10 don’t currently understand the metaverse, highlighting the need to safeguard this new space.

Yet, despite the lack of understanding and – importantly – regulation, Brits are already beginning to explore this new online world. In 2021, the percentage of UK adults who had experienced VR more than doubled, rising from 10% in January 2021 to 22% in December 2021 (research by Limina Immersive, as referenced in the report).

What is more, according to the IET study, more than a fifth of 5-10-year-olds (21%) already have a VR headset of their own or have asked for a similar tech present for their birthday or Christmas. 15% of them have already tried VR, and 6% use it on a regular basis.

But, despite children taking their first steps in this new form of media, there is apprehension from parents as well as a lack of knowledge. Only one in 10 (10%) parents feel comfortable letting their child explore the metaverse through VR without supervision. Of those parents whose children already interact with VR, over a quarter (26%) admitted they did not know what their child was accessing in this new virtual world, underlining the need for robust safeguarding to be introduced.

And worryingly, the IET’s report suggests these parents’ fears aren’t misplaced; even existing VR users say this virtual world currently feels like an “unsafe wild west”; a situation that urgently needs addressing. So, how can we make the metaverse a safe space for the next generation? By future-proofing our legislation to protect the liberties, rights, and privacy of all its users.

Catherine Allen, co-author of the IET’s new report, Member of the IET’s Digital Policy Panel, and CEO of VR consultancy Limina Immersive says: “Through our research we estimate that the next generation will spend around ten years of their lives in VR. This figure alone illustrates the impact that this technology will have on the lives of today’s children.

“Immersive technologies have limitless potential and endless opportunities but with this also come risks and threats. It’s integral that the safety, privacy, and rights of end users are protected.

“Today, the UK has a golden opportunity to use its democratic processes to shape the future of the next major form of media: immersive technologies and the metaverse. Not only will this help protect adults and children from future harms in years to come, but it will also bring about wider societal rewards. People must feel safe in digital spaces in order to really harness the potential.”

Supporting the IET’s call to Government and campaigning for new legislation on the metaverse to be introduced is child safety advocate and IET Honorary Fellow, Carol Vorderman M.A.(Cantab) MBE.

Carol says: “We are approaching the start of a dramatic transformation that will impact the lives of people across the world, similarly as we did 20 years ago with the then new technology of the internet and issues around online safety.

“At the time I worked alongside other campaigners and the Home Secretary David Blunkett on the law to make Grooming Online an illegal act. With the new digital universe approaching fast, I believe its integration with the lives of young people will be monumental and bring about new issues around sexual harassment and abuse.

“Young people should be able to use these new innovations safely, and their parents or care givers must also feel confident to let them get the most out of this incredible technology.

“Whilst I hugely welcome the Online Safety Bill and support Secretary of State Nadine Dorries, I believe it must go further to futureproof technologies of tomorrow. By ensuring the metaverse is explicitly included, hopefully in the final Bill, if not through secondary legislation, the UK government will be able to take a position of leadership in this important space, protecting children and allowing them to learn, socialise and – eventually – even work safely in this exciting new frontier of the digital world.”

Verity McIntosh, Senior Lecturer in Virtual & Extended Realities at University of the West of England Bristol, and co-author alongside Catherine of the IET’s new report adds: “The ‘metaverse’ offers enormous potential for creativity, commerce, and community. However, as technology continues to outpace legislation, it is imperative that we learn the lessons of 20th Century media and the early internet.

“This report is designed to support the development of appropriate systems of governance and regulation, including a fit-for-purpose Online Safety Bill, that will empower users and ensure that human rights are protected, everywhere.”

The IET’s new report offers three recommendations that governments can shape the future of the metaverse:

1. Futureproofing the Online Safety Bill – Whilst the Online Safety Bill does apply to immersive technologies and the metaverse, it needs some adaptations to make it properly fit for purpose, rather than an afterthought. The bill is currently focussed on content that is published rather than activity that happens. In the metaverse, activity happens in real time. The bill must be adapted to work well in these live, active contexts that are more akin to real life events.
2. Encouraging a positive, healthy metaverse culture – In the case of the metaverse and immersive technologies, user-driven safety features aimed at addressing harassment and abuse are not enough. The solutions being offered by technology companies for user safety, for instance the block and mute feature, are primarily instigated by the victim. By the time a victim has found the block, mute and report button, the psychological damage has often already been done. Technology companies must be incentivised to address these issues of harassment and abuse at their core – addressing the culture of these spaces – rather than placing the onus onto victims.
3. Fast tracking immersive literacy in policy makers, regulators, and politicians – A wide range of VR users say the metaverse feels like an unsafe wild west. This needs addressing. Governments, politicians, and policy makers must be aware of these immersive technologies and the activity that occurs on these immersive platforms. Without this awareness, decisions will either be made in the dark, or not at all. Decision makers must experience VR and spend some time in the metaverse. The IET will offer support and access to equipment to support this development of immersive literacy.