Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Are Children Ready for the Metaverse? The Minefield of Virtual Participation in Digital Social Spaces with Harmful Content and Behavior

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Electronic Participation (ePart 2024)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14891))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 549 Accesses

Abstract

The technological concept of the metaverse has the potential to change our society to an extent that can be compared with past inventions such as the internet. The risks and challenges it might bring for its users when participating are often neglected. Past experiences regarding social media or online gaming showed how such technologies can have negative effects on the psychological and physiological well-being of their users and that malicious individuals might abuse them. A user segment that is especially vulnerable in this context is the group of children and adolescents-youth. This study contains a detailed content analysis of two different metaverse applications regarding what types of child-inappropriate content or behavior exist there and reveals a number of serious concerns when children enter such digital virtual spaces. This paper addresses the types risks the use of the metaverse can pose for children and adolescents by creating a knowledge base derived from the current state of literature and interviews with experts. Additionally, it contributes to research by developing a classification scheme that helps to identify and categorize child-inappropriate content or behavior that occurs in metaverse spaces.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    hello.vrchat.com/community-guidelines.

  2. 2.

    recroom.com/code-of-conduct.

References

  1. Allam, Z., Sharifi, A., Bibri, S.E., Jones, D.S., Krogstie, J.: The metaverse as a virtual form of smart cities: opportunities and challenges for environmental, economic, and social sustainability in urban futures. Smart Cities 5, 771–801 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Abbate, S., Centobelli, P., Cerchione, R., Oropallo, E., Riccio, E.: A first bibliometric literature review on Metaverse. In: 2022 IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Conference (TEMSCON EUROPE), pp. 254–260 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Stephenson, N.: Snow Crash. Bantam Books, New York (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Horizon Worlds Virtual Reality Worlds and Communities. https://www.meta.com/horizon-worlds/

  5. Dwivedi, Y.K., et al.: Metaverse beyond the hype: multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging challenges, opportunities, and agenda for research, practice and policy. Int. J. Inf. Manage. 66, 102542 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Damar, M.: Metaverse shape of your life for future: a bibliometric snapshot. J. Metaverse. 1, 1–78 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bibri, S.E., Allam, Z.: The metaverse as a virtual form of data-driven smart urbanism: on post-pandemic governance through the prism of the logic of surveillance capitalism. Smart Cities. 5 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kaimara, P., Oikonomou, A., Deliyannis, I.: Could virtual reality applications pose real risks to children and adolescents? A systematic review of ethical issues and concerns. Virtual Real. 26, 697–735 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lavoie, R., Main, K., King, C., King, D.: Virtual experience, real consequences: the potential negative emotional consequences of virtual reality gameplay. Virtual Real. 25, 69–81 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee, L.-H.: All one needs to know about metaverse: a complete survey on technological singularity, virtual ecosystem, and research agenda. J. Latex Class Files 14 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Muslihati Hotifah, Y., Hidayat, W.N., Purwanta, E., Valdez, A.V., Ilmi, A.M., Saputra, N.M.A.: Predicting the mental health quality of adolescents with intensive exposure to metaverse and its counseling recommendations in a multicultural context. Cakrawala Pendidikan. 42, 38–52 (2023)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Usmani, S.S., Sharath, M., Mehendale, M.: Future of mental health in the metaverse (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bailey, J.O., Bailenson, J.N.: Considering virtual reality in children’s lives. J. Children Media 11(1), 107–113 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Park, S.M., Kim, Y.G.: A metaverse: taxonomy, components, applications, and open challenges. IEEE Access. 10, 4209–4251 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Benrimoh, D., Chheda, F.D., Margolese, H.C.: The best predictor of the future—the metaverse, mental health, and lessons learned from current technologies. JMIR Ment. Health, 9 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cairns, P., Cox, A., Nordin, A.I.: Immersion in Digital Games: Review of Gaming Experience Research. In: Angelides, M.C., Agius, H. (eds.) Handbook of Digital Games, pp. 337–361. John Wiley & Sons Inc, Hoboken, NJ, USA (2014)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Han, D.I.D., Bergs, Y., Moorhouse, N.: Virtual reality consumer experience escapes: preparing for the metaverse. Virtual Real. 26, 1443–1458 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Shin, D.: Empathy and embodied experience in virtual environment: to what extent can virtual reality stimulate empathy and embodied experience? Comput. Human Behav. 78, 64–73 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Goltz, N.: ESRB warning: use of virtual worlds by children may result in addiction and blurring of borders. Pittsburgh J. Technol. Law Policy. 11 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Anderson, C.A., et al.: Supplemental material for violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior in eastern and western countries: a meta-analytic review. Psychol. Bull. (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Griffiths, M.D., Davies, M.N.O., Chappell, D.: Online computer gaming: a comparison of adolescent and adult gamers. J. Adolesc. 27, 87–96 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Witmer, B.G., Singer, M.J.: Measuring presence in virtual environments: a presence questionnaire. Presence: Teleoperators Virtual Environ. 7, 225–240 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Turel, O., Romashkin, A., Morrison, K.M.: A model linking video gaming, sleep quality, sweet drinks consumption and obesity among children and youth. Clin. Obes. 7, 191–198 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Gottschalk, F.: Impacts of technology use on children: Exploring literature on the brain, cognition and well-being. OECD Education Working Papers (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kenney, E.L., Gortmaker, S.L.: United States adolescents’ television, computer, videogame, smartphone, and tablet use: associations with sugary drinks, sleep, physical activity, and obesity. J. Pediatr. 182, 144–149 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Dey, N., Babo, R., Ashour, A.S., Bhatnagar, V., Bouhlel, M.S.: Social Networks Science: Design, Implementation, Security, and Challenges: From Social Networks Analysis to Social Networks Intelligence. Springer, Cham (2018)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  27. Holsapple, C.W., Wu, J.: User acceptance of virtual worlds: the hedonic framework. DATA BASE Adv. Inf. Syst. 38, 86–89 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Fox, J., Bailenson, J.N., Tricase, L.: The embodiment of sexualized virtual selves: the Proteus effect and experiences of self-objectification via avatars. Comput. Human Behav. 29, 930–938 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Paul, I., Mohanty, S., Sengupta, R.: The role of social virtual world in increasing psychological resilience during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Comput. Human Behav. 127, 107036 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Yee, N., Bailenson, J.N., Ducheneaut, N.: The proteus effect: implications of transformed digital self-representation on online and offline behavior. Commun. Res. 36, 285–312 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Teng, C.-I.: Customization, immersion satisfaction, and online gamer loyalty. Comput. Human Behav. 26, 1547–1554 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Blackwell, L., Ellison, N., Elliott-Deflo, N., Schwartz, R.: Harassment in social virtual reality: challenges for platform governance. Proc. ACM Human Comput. Interact. 3, 1–25 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Chen, G.M., Pain, P., Chen, V.Y., Mekelburg, M., Springer, N., Troger, F.: ‘You really have to have a thick skin’: a cross-cultural perspective on how online harassment influences female journalists. Journalism 21, 877–895 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. O’Keeffe, G.S., et al.: The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics 127, 800–804 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Shriram, K., Schwartz, R.: All are welcome: using VR ethnography to explore harassment behavior in immersive social virtual reality. In: 2017 IEEE Virtual Reality (VR), pp. 225–226. IEEE, Los Angeles, CA, USA (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Jonsson, L.S., Fredlund, C., Priebe, G., Wadsby, M., Svedin, C.G.: Online sexual abuse of adolescents by a perpetrator met online: a cross-sectional study. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry Ment. Health 13, 1–10 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Lawson, E.C.: New research shows Metaverse is not safe for kids (2021). https://counterhate.com/blog/new-research-shows-metaverse-is-not-safe-for-kids/

  38. Kartit, D., Howcroft, E., Howcroft, E.: Interpol says metaverse opens up new world of cybercrime. Reuters (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Koehler, D., Fiebig, V., Jugl, I.: From gaming to hating: extreme-right ideological indoctrination and mobilization for violence of children on online gaming platforms. Polit. Psychol. 44, 419–434 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Nichols, S., Patel, H.: Health and safety implications of virtual reality: a review of empirical evidence. Appl. Ergon. 33, 251–271 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Regan, C.: An investigation into nausea and other side-effects of head-coupled immersive virtual reality. Virtual Real. 1, 17–31 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Cao, S., Nandakumar, K., Babu, R., Thompson, B.: Game play in virtual reality driving simulation involving head-mounted display and comparison to desktop display. Virtual Real. 24, 503–513 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. LaViola, J.J.: A discussion of cybersickness in virtual environments. ACM SIGCHI Bull. 32, 47–56 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Cloete, R., Norval, C., Singh, J.: A call for auditable virtual, augmented and mixed reality. In: Presented at the November (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Popper, K.: The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Taylor & Francis, Milton Park (2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  46. Duggan, M.: Online Harassment 2017 (2017). https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/07/11/online-harassment-2017/

  47. Wolak, J., Mitchell, K.J., Finkelhor, D.: Does online harassment constitute bullying? An exploration of online harassment by known peers and online-only contacts. J. Adolesc. Health. 41, S51–S58 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Strasburger, V.C., Jordan, A.B., Donnerstein, E.: Children, adolescents, and the media: health effects. Pediatr. Clin. North Am. 59, 533–587 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Weimann, G., Masri, N.: Research note: spreading hate on TikTok. Studies Conflict Terrorism 46, 752–765 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Falchuk, B., Loeb, S., Neff, R.: The social metaverse: battle for privacy. IEEE Technol. Soc. Mag. 37, 52–61 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Fernandez, C.B., Hui, P.: Life, the metaverse and everything: an overview of privacy, ethics, and governance in metaverse. In: Presented at the March (2022)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, Enschede, 7500 AE, The Netherlands

    Robin Effing & Michael Hinz

Authors
  1. Robin Effing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Hinz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robin Effing .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South-Eastern Norway, Borre, Norway

    Marius Rohde Johannessen

  2. Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

    Csaba Csáki

  3. Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Lieselot Danneels

  4. University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

    Sara Hofmann

  5. University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria

    Thomas Lampoltshammer

  6. University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria

    Peter Parycek

  7. Zürich University, Zurich, Switzerland

    Gerhard Schwabe

  8. University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Efthimios Tambouris

  9. Technical University Delft, Delft, The Netherlands

    Jolien Ubacht

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Effing, R., Hinz, M. (2024). Are Children Ready for the Metaverse? The Minefield of Virtual Participation in Digital Social Spaces with Harmful Content and Behavior. In: Johannessen, M.R., et al. Electronic Participation. ePart 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14891. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70804-6_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70804-6_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-70803-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-70804-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Societies and partnerships