Since Metaverse might change the lives of the next generation, the perspectives of young people must be included in serious discussions about the future, such as Metaverse Safety Week.
As the American children’s national arts organization and the world’s children’s global arts organization, the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) organizes international youth panels on critical issues at major conferences worldwide.
ICAF’s International Youth Panel for the Metaverse Safety week includes three ICAF Youth Board Members.
Evie Felten is a recipient of the Grand Honors Award in Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University CTY. She is in middle school in North Carolina
Margot Madison is a high school senior in Massachusetts
Praveer Sharan is a freshman at Purdue University’s Computer Science Department.
The panel includes two independent experts:
Laalitya Acharya is studying biomedical engineering and political science as a sophomore at Columbia University.
Jonathan Kennedy Sowah uses robotics and VR to teach STEM disciplines to schoolchildren in Ghana.
Moderator: Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq, ICAF founder and chairman
Session Video
The objective of the "Youth Panel on the Metaverse" was to include young people's perspectives in serious discussions about the future of the Metaverse, specifically regarding the protection of children and their rights. The panel consisted of three youth board members of the International Child Art Foundation and two independent experts in technology and education.
During the panel discussion, the speakers highlighted the potential risks and benefits of the Metaverse for children, and discussed the importance of developing policies and regulations to ensure children's safety and rights are protected in the Metaverse. They also discussed the need for education and awareness campaigns for parents, educators, and children on the responsible use of Metaverse technologies.
The panelists suggested several solutions, including the need for collaboration among policymakers, technology companies, educators, and parents to create a safe and inclusive Metaverse for children. They also emphasized the need for research and development of ethical guidelines and standards for the development and deployment of Metaverse technologies.
During the "Panel Discussion", the speakers highlighted several important ideas and insights regarding the Metaverse and its impact on children. Some of the main points include:
The Metaverse has the potential to bring significant benefits to children, including innovative education, therapy, and play.
At the same time, there are also significant risks and challenges associated with the Metaverse, including issues related to privacy, safety, and online abuse.
To address these challenges, it is important to involve young people in the conversation and give them a voice in shaping the future of the Metaverse.
Some potential solutions to the challenges of the Metaverse include better education and awareness campaigns, stronger regulations and laws, and innovative technological tools to protect children.
The speakers also discussed the need for collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders, including parents, educators, technology professionals, and policymakers, to ensure that the Metaverse is safe and beneficial for children.
Finally, the panelists emphasized the importance of balancing the benefits and risks of the Metaverse and ensuring that it is used in ways that promote positive outcomes for children and families.
Overall, the panel discussion was an important step towards raising awareness and engaging stakeholders in the protection of children's rights in the Metaverse. The insights and recommendations provided by the panelists can help inform future policy and regulatory frameworks for the responsible development and deployment of Metaverse technologies.
We are entering a post-reality era with a diminishing sense of safety, privacy, and trust. We need to come together to address these risks proactively and reduce harm to humans and societies. XR Safety Initiative (XRSI) believes that the first step to this is creating awareness and safeguards.
Metaverse Safety Week 2022 is a week-long safety campaign, and we need your generous support in making it a Free-for-All, Accessible & Inclusive for everyone.
“The moment to create the change is now. Together we must make it happen.”
