Meta is looking to give its Quest virtual-reality headsets a boost. Photo: META/Via REUTERS
Meta Platforms Inc. has opened its Horizon Worlds VR app to teenagers ages 13-17 in the U.S. and Canada.
The
move is part of Meta's strategy to boost engagement on its Quest
headsets and gain traction in the metaverse, WSJ reveals.
- Horizon Worlds' monthly
active user base was just above 200,000 in February, short of the
company's original goal of 500,000 by the end of 2022.
- Meta's
Vice President of Horizon stated that teens and young adults are
important to the service's user growth, and the company will serve this
cohort first and foremost.
- Meta stated it would provide a safe
experience for teens with age-appropriate default protections, including
private profiles, controlled followers, and mature content ratings.
- Meta
has also expanded its VR parental supervision tools to include Horizon
and will garble and transform the voices of teens and adults who don't
know each other.
- Two senators and a group of over 70 organizations and experts on health, privacy, and children's rights have called on Meta to cancel its plans to launch Horizon to teens.
