“Minors in the Metaverse” can be intimidating for parents because of its size and the confidence that anonymity fosters. What kind of online mischief did you engage in before becoming 18? You most certainly came across some explicit material or an unsavoury person through gaming, social networking, or peer-to-peer networks.

While many different parental controls are available to assist in protecting children online, the security measures in the metaverse aren’t completely covered by them. The metaverse, built on the blockchain and intended to be decentralized, currently resembles the wild west due to a lack of control that may be daunting and unquestionably hazardous for young people.

While many advocate for a free and open performance in the metaverse, it is debatable whether or not children will be treated equally to other users in the rumoured next generation of the internet. How can we shield the future generation from the undesirable aspects of the internet if that is the case? Can there be age limitations on the blockchain? Or would putting limitations in place in the metaverse go against Web3’s fundamental principles?

What the term “metaverse” means

There are several different definitions for the term “metaverse.” The phrase refers to 3D environments that rely on virtual or augmented reality for well-known firms like Meta. In light of this, industry titans in media, gaming, and technology may view the metaverse as a product that can be developed, advertised, and sold. But that doesn’t sound like the expansive, unrestricted, infinite metaverse that many imagined after reading Neal Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash, which is where the phrase was first used.

According to many in Web3, the metaverse can only be created on the blockchain with NFTs, crypto, and other types of decentralized technology, even though the VR versions of the metaverse are unquestionably genuine and significant. Depending on which of these two versions we’re talking about, the discussion of whether or not the metaverse should be open, trustworthy, and decentralized—or defined by tech giants—will affect whether or not kids are permitted access. The metaverse’s future and how it might work with these Web3 technologies are still up in the air as of 2023. It is, therefore, difficult to predict what might actually materialize.

20/ tl;dr

The Metaverse will actually happen this decade.

If it is open, human innovation will flourish. If it is closed, we are digital serfs of sorts.

We 100,000 or so people right now are the front-line in this battle and we have to do it ourselves

— 6529 (@punk6529) August 22, 2021

Parental controls in the metaverse are even conceivable.

Parental controls are options with streaming services, gaming consoles, mobile devices, and desktops that let parents monitor their children’s activity and limit their content. These tools have been providing adult guardians with peace of mind since 1994, so both millennials and members of Generation Z are probably familiar with them.

Parental controls are unquestionably beneficial in, for example, preventing 13-year-olds from accessing apps and websites intended for adults or watching programmes with mature classifications. Still, they are only as effective as the technology they are intended to govern. So, could the amazingly robust metaverse implement parental controls?

Both yes and no are the responses. Yes, any VR headset or gaming machine can be restricted through built-in features or third-party programmes if the metaverse is defined as 3D virtual worlds. This will probably always be the case with hardware, despite changing technology. While there may not be an age limit in place for the metaverse’s VR Murderville Strip Club (which is not a real entity), parents can still place restrictions on children’s devices to block access.

However, what can a parent do to prevent their children from using Web3’s mandated version of the aforementioned metaverse? In this metaverse, scammers are constantly trying to shanghai one of the two as artists sell NFTs, collectors sell crypto-art for a profit, and real money is on the line (or both). Not to add that some Web3 communities have a tendency to be poisonous and frequently unpleasant.

In this situation, a few things need to be taken into account. First, there is a chance for parents to limit the websites their kid’s access. This would mean no more OpenSea, Rarible, Magic Eden, Nifty Gateway, etc. Yes, that fixes the issue partially. Second, it’s unlikely that kids will have access to a bank account. Thus there won’t be any cryptocurrency exchanges. Naturally, implementing a parental block on wallet services like Rainbow or MetaMask wouldn’t prevent someone else from sending money to the wallet of a person under 18.

But let’s say none of this works. Kids can circumvent these parental measures. Perhaps a child downloaded and secretly stored a software wallet on their phone. Or maybe they’re using Somnium Space, The Sandbox, or Decentraland at school—all three of which are blockchain-powered and appropriate for all ages. Or, if they have a lot of talent, maybe they’re just minting NFTs at the contract level or using swap/trading applications to avoid the main markets that parents are aware of and have access to. Even though it’s an extreme situation, it goes well beyond simply taking the child’s VR headset away. Additionally, there isn’t much a guardian could do given the decentralized and permissionless structure of the blockchain.

Also, read – Here’s How the Dark Side of Web3 Gets Away With NFT Theft

Do age limitations conflict with Web3 principles?

Implementing parental controls or age limitations in the decentralized metaverse would require some real finesse. To buy cryptocurrency with a credit card, almost everyone may download a software wallet and use Wyre or MoonPay (perhaps not even their own). The obstacles to entry into the NFT domain and the interoperable metaverse are also steadily declining because a sizable part of Web3 businesses aims for widespread acceptance.

Let’s say a firm releases an app targeted exclusively for children or prevents computers and mobile devices from accessing any Web3 and NFT sites and platforms. That might be a simple victory for the parents. But there are still some difficulties. The first problem is the potential presence of evil characters in a kid-friendly metaverse. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that a solution will be found that would let minors access some Web3 content while filtering out the explicit portions (such as CryptoDickButts, skill games/gambling, nude NFTs, etc.). In order to accomplish this, the significant human effort would be needed to determine the type of content and use arbitrary qualitative metrics. This feat looks fairly unattainable for any Web3 firm, given the rapidly expanding NFT market, the huge range of blockchains, and the hosting services connected to the metaverse.

Even if such a service existed, it might be considered against Web3’s principles and ethos. Because one virtue continues to be a constant denominator throughout the communities that utilize the blockchain as a stomping ground: the fervent desire for decentralization. Even though this might, in certain situations, only apply to decentralized banking, the idealistic proponents of Web3 have long mocked the stifling character of the traditional financial, technological, and creative sectors.

provenance over IP, decentralization over centralization, open source over closed source, incentive compatible over greedy. if you do these right you can build something unstoppable

— 4156 (@punk4156) July 22, 2021

This is especially true in light of the confusing range of legal challenges the blockchain has faced over the past 12 months. While the NFT community celebrated Sam Bankman-arrest Fried’s after the heartbreaking story of FTX’s demise, SEC investigations against well-known projects and reputable crypto exchanges have many people worried about looming, onerous regulation.

So, would heavy-handed content-blocking methods like parental controls, age restrictions, or others be well-liked on Web3? No chance. It goes without saying that this is founded on the values of the blockchain community. That is to say. Given the individualized nature of the issue, there might not be a straightforward way for individuals in Web3 to come to an agreement over the moral dilemma of trying to shield kids from the overwhelming “ick” that exists online and (in certain forms) on-chain. Concentrated power is undesirable to them.

More about the moral quandary in the Metaverse

Social media’s harmful side effects on minors, particularly youngsters, have been extensively documented. This has not yet been investigated, observed, or quantified on a large scale. It makes it plausible that the metaverse may increase these effects, given the correlation between sites like Instagram and despair, self-harm, and other mental health problems.

Even so, there are numerous potential advantages. With interesting learning opportunities, new opportunities for social skill development, and the opportunity for parents and children to connect over the exciting possibilities of the future, the metaverse may offer major benefits for family life.

In the end, morality and ethics should be the main topics of discussion when deciding whether or not to allow children access to the metaverse. Parents and guardians always have the last say on what’s best for their children. Despite the fact that, at the time, the sole option for applying parental restrictions in the metaverse appears to be “all or nothing,” it’s possible that education is the greatest way to keep children safe. If the metaverse is inevitable, it will be crucial to pass on to the next generation the knowledge and abilities they need to stay safe and thrive, including how to avoid scams, an understanding of how the blockchain works and secure wallet practices.