A recent study from North Carolina State University reveals that despite a growing number of minors using virtual reality (VR) apps, many parents aren’t fully aware of the security and privacy risks associated with these technologies.
Moreover, only a small percentage of parents are proactively addressing these concerns by utilizing parental controls integrated into the apps.
“In recent years we have seen an increase in the number of minors using VR apps that have social interaction elements, which increases security and privacy risks—such as unintended self-disclosures of sensitive personal information and surveillance of a user’s biometric data,” the authors explain.
Lack of awareness
“We wanted to see how much parents know about security and privacy risks associated with these VR apps, and what they are currently doing to address those risks,” they continue. “These findings will help us identify areas where parents, technology designers, and policymakers could do more to enhance children’s security and privacy.”
To delve into this issue, the researchers conducted detailed interviews with 20 parents who have children under 18 using VR apps at home. These interviews aimed to uncover the risks parents associated with VR apps, the measures they employed to safeguard their children’s security and privacy in this context, and the stakeholders they believed should bear responsibility for protecting children using these apps.
“We found that parents were primarily worried about physiological development issues,” the researchers say. “For example, some parents were worried about VR damaging children’s eyesight or children injuring themselves while using the apps.”
Managing the risks
Regarding risk management strategies, the study observed that parents were engaging in conversations with their children about online safety and the importance of not divulging personal information. Additionally, many parents opted to share VR accounts with their children to monitor their usage of VR apps.
However, the study noted that only a small percentage of parents were utilizing the parental controls embedded within VR technologies.
“Most parents were aware that the controls existed, they just weren’t activating them,” the authors explain. “In some cases, parents felt their children were more tech-savvy than themselves, and wanted to give their kids autonomy regarding VR usage. This was particularly the case for teens. But in some cases, parents didn’t make use of the controls due to technical challenges.”
The primary barrier
The study uncovered that parents perceived themselves as primarily responsible for shielding their children from risks linked to VR usage. Nonetheless, they also expressed a desire for VR companies to implement user-friendly parental controls to aid in risk mitigation.
Furthermore, parents believed policymakers should stay updated on emerging technologies to enact or adjust laws and regulations safeguarding children online. Lastly, parents emphasized the importance of schools teaching children how to safely navigate these new technologies.
“It is essential for parents to experience and understand VR before they let their children use it, to get a sense of the security and privacy risks VR may pose,” the authors conclude.
“However, while parents serve as the first line of defense for protecting children against these risks in VR, it is imperative for other stakeholders such as educators, developers, and policymakers to take proactive steps to ensure the comprehensive protection of children in VR environments.”
