Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ed Markey (D-MA) write a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, urging him to halt the company’s plans to open its social VR platform, Horizon Worlds, to teenagers.

On January 13th, TechCrunch reported that Meta may grant access to Horizon Worlds for users aged 13 to 17 as early as this month. The leaked memo detailing the plan has raised concerns among lawmakers and experts regarding the potential risks of allowing young users onto the platform.

A Risky Plan

In a letter addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, Senators Blumenthal and Markey expressed their concerns about Meta’s plan to invite teenagers into Horizon Worlds, stating that "any strategy to invite young users into a digital space rife with potential harms should not be driven by a goal to maximize profit." The senators emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and adolescents in the digital sphere.

The letter highlights several concerns regarding Meta’s ability to protect minors on its platform. These include:

  • Past problems: Meta has faced issues with onboarding users onto Horizon Worlds and keeping them safe while using the platform.
  • Groping and harassment: Some users have reported being groped and sexually harassed in Horizon Worlds, leading to a rollout of a ‘personal boundary’ feature.
  • Moderation challenges: The platform’s reliance on community moderators for speech-based interactions raises concerns about its ability to effectively moderate large-scale conversations.

A Troubled Track Record

The senators also referenced leaked documents by whistleblower Frances Haugen, which showed that Meta-owned Instagram exacerbates mental health issues in teen girls. This revelation has sparked a series of hearings and legislative proposals involving both senators.

Blumenthal and Markey expressed skepticism about Meta’s ability to keep Horizon Worlds safe for children due to the company’s track record:

"With a documented track record of failure to protect children and teens, Meta has lost parents’, pediatricians’, policymakers’, and the public’s trust."

Meta’s Response

When reached out by TechCrunch for comment on the letter, Meta did not provide an official statement. However, it is worth noting that Meta has had issues with its VR headset, the Meta Quest, including a lack of parental supervision tools.

The senators’ concerns are particularly relevant in light of recent government investigations into social media’s impact on young people