Now the metaverse is no longer science fiction it’s time to get serious about making it safe, especially for children. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has developed three core design principles to minimise harms and ensure transparency and accountability are built in.
Session Video
The keynote was titled "Back to the Future: Intentional Design for a Safer Metaverse" and was held during the Metaverse Safety Week, with a focus on child safety and children's rights. The keynote speaker was Julie Inman Grant, Australia's eSafety Commissioner.
Grant emphasized the need for intentional design in creating a safe and secure metaverse, particularly for children. She presented three core design principles that can help minimize risks and ensure transparency and accountability in the metaverse.
The keynote discussion that followed focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by the metaverse, as well as potential solutions to ensure a safer and more inclusive virtual world. Key themes discussed included the importance of collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagement in developing solutions, the need for proactive measures to address potential risks and harms, and the potential for the metaverse to facilitate positive social and educational outcomes.
During the keynote discussion on "Back to the Future – Intentional Design for a safer Metaverse" the following main ideas and insights were highlighted:
- The metaverse is no longer science fiction, and it is essential to make it safe for everyone, especially children.
- Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has developed three core design principles to minimize harms and ensure transparency and accountability in the metaverse.
- The metaverse brings benefits to kids and families in the form of innovative education, therapy, and play. However, it also has risks and psychological harms that need to be addressed.
- A collaborative approach is necessary to develop a safer metaverse. This includes youth policy advocates, legislators, technology professionals, civic organizations, parents, educators, and guardians.
- The keynote discussed the challenges of creating a safe and equitable metaverse, including privacy concerns, content moderation, and the potential for discrimination.
- Julie Inman Grant emphasized the importance of incorporating child safety and protection into the design and development of the metaverse from the start.
- The keynote also discussed the need for regulation, guidelines, and industry standards to ensure the safety of the metaverse.
- Finally, the keynote emphasized the importance of empowering children and young people to be responsible digital citizens and to participate in the design of the metaverse.
Overall, the keynote highlighted the importance of taking a proactive and collaborative approach to ensuring a safe and inclusive metaverse, particularly for children.
