What are the current regulations regarding age restrictions and content control in Virtual Reality applications, particularly those involving violent or explicit material?
The current regulations regarding age restrictions and content control in Virtual Reality (VR) applications vary by country and platform. Generally, VR platforms follow existing guidelines for age restrictions set by national regulatory bodies, such as the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in the United States or Pan European Game Information (PEGI) in Europe. These rating systems consider factors like violence, sexual content, language, and drug use to determine appropriate age groups for particular VR experiences. Additionally, some platforms have implemented their own guidelines and tools to help users control access to violent or explicit material.
Long answer
The regulations regarding age restrictions and content control in VR applications are evolving as the medium continues to gain popularity. Currently, various countries have different approaches to age ratings and content regulation for VR applications. In the United States, the ESRB is not limited to traditional video games but also includes VR games under its purview. The ESRB uses a rating system that ranges from “Everyone” to “Adults Only 18+”, helping consumers understand the suitability of a game’s content based on age appropriateness.
Similarly, Europe follows its own classification system called PEGI. PEGI rates video games including VR applications according to 5+ age categories with descriptors indicating why a certain rating was assigned (e.g., violence, bad language).
Apart from national regulators’ guidelines, individual VR platforms often implement their policies to ensure safer experiences. For instance, Oculus Quest allows developers to add comfort ratings like Comfortable, Moderate Comfort, or Intense Comfort based on potential motion sickness-inducing movements. Developers may also be required by platforms to submit their titles for review before making them available in app stores.
To assist parents and guardians in controlling access to violent or explicit material in VR applications, several platforms offer parental control options. These features generally allow restrictions based on age-appropriate content and can limit access to specific apps or content categories.
It’s important to note that as VR continues to evolve, regulatory bodies and platform providers may update their guidelines and policies to address emerging challenges. It is advisable for users and developers to stay informed about the regulations specific to their region and platform of interest.