Safeguarding the users of the digital and virtual worlds is of utmost importance in today’s world as the world becomes smaller and more people spend more and more time with unreal worlds that we create with today’s technology. Whether the parents, educators or community at large likes it or not, the teens and youth of today spend far more time socially interacting within a digital/immersive environment than ever before. The generation gap in technology is widening every 2-3 years now with new developments in XR and Web 3.0 and development of extended and immersive virtual technologies. While the governance or even creation of these digital platforms is in infancy, the platforms also pose a risk to vulnerable and young users who need safeguarding principles and protection in place. The purpose of any child safeguarding policy and associated procedures must be to provide clarity to ALL users on how they should engage
with children, young people and vulnerable adults when working for, on behalf of, or in partnership with other users. It must also help in making sure that employees, volunteers and other representatives are protected.
This panel will feature an entrepreneur who runs VR Academy for Children, and a risk management expert. The panel is moderated by one of the XRSI advisors and privacy experts, diving into the issue from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Session Video
The main objective of the "Panel Discussion" was to discuss the risks associated with immersive technologies in the Metaverse and how to protect the rights of children in this digital world. The panelists were experts in their respective fields, including privacy, cybersecurity, legislative policy, and virtual reality education.
The panel highlighted the potential benefits of the Metaverse for children and families, such as innovative education, therapy, and play, while also acknowledging the new, unforeseen risks and psychological harms that come with these immersive worlds. They discussed the need for safeguarding the users of digital and virtual worlds, and how the responsibility falls on parents, educators, civic organizations, technology professionals, and legislators.
The panelists emphasized the importance of privacy and data protection, especially for children, and the need for companies and organizations to embed privacy in their products and initiatives. They also discussed the role of education in preparing children to navigate the Metaverse safely and responsibly.
In general, the panel provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of the Metaverse and emphasized the need for collaboration and proactive measures to protect the rights and safety of children in this digital world.
During the "Panel Discussion" on "Protecting children and their rights in the Metaverse", several ideas and insights were shared by the panelists. Here are some of the main ones:
The Metaverse is rapidly developing, and with it, new, unforeseen risks and psychological harms may arise for children and youth.
The panelists acknowledged the benefits of the Metaverse in terms of innovative education, therapy, and play, but also highlighted the need to address the potential negative impacts and risks.
The panelists emphasized the importance of safeguarding the users of the digital and virtual worlds, especially children, and the need for parents, educators, and community stakeholders to be aware of the risks and challenges posed by the Metaverse.
The panelists discussed the importance of privacy and security in the Metaverse and the need for companies and regulators to ensure that user data is protected.
The panelists also discussed the role of education in promoting safe and responsible use of the Metaverse, including the need for children to be taught about digital citizenship and online safety.
The panelists highlighted the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Metaverse, and the need to ensure that marginalized groups are not excluded or discriminated against.
The panelists discussed the potential of NFTs and blockchain technology to empower children and youth to create and participate in the Metaverse in new and exciting ways.
Overall, the panelists emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to address the risks and challenges posed by the Metaverse and to promote safe and responsible use of this technology, especially for children and youth.
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. X Reality Safety Intelligence (XRSI) believes that the first step to this is creating awareness and safeguards.
Metaverse Safety Week 2023 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.”
