The Federal Trade Commission has recently issued the “Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks “report that examines how easily minors can access sexually and violently explicit content in online virtual worlds, and the measures virtual world operators take to prevent minors from viewing it.

According to the findings, explicit content exists, free of charge, in online virtual worlds that minors are able to access. Although little explicit content appeared in child-oriented virtual worlds, a moderate to heavy amount appeared in virtual worlds that are designed for teens and adults. In fact, some virtual worlds designed for teens and adults allow – or even encourage – younger children to get around the worlds’ minimum age requirements.

Use more effective age-screening mechanisms to prevent children from registering in adult virtual worlds

Use or enhance age-segregation techniques to make sure that people interact only with others in their age group

Re-examine language filters to ensure that they detect and eliminate messages that violate rules of behavior in virtual worlds

Provide more guidance to community enforcers in virtual worlds so they are better able to review and rate virtual world content, report potential underage users, and report any users who appear to be violating rules of behavior

Source: FTC Report Finds Sexually and Violently Explicit Content in Online Virtual Worlds Accessed by Minors, Federal Trade Commission News, December 12, 2009

Tags: Virtual worlds, pornography, violence, offensive content