Study Surveys Family Concerns About Youth VR Use
A study examining families’ views on virtual reality (VR) found that parents want more reliable information on how VR might affect children’s and teenagers’ brains and behaviour. The study also shows that families care more about VR features that get kids moving than about features that teach them something.
The research, led by Qiao Jin, a computer science professor at North Carolina State University, looked at which worries about VR are most important to families. The study also asked how families think these worries should be handled and who should take care of them.
Researchers began by analysing interview responses from 67 children and 55 adult guardians. The interviews discussed what helps families decide whether to use VR, including the pros and cons of the technology. Participants were also asked who they thought should be responsible for addressing family concerns about VR use.
After the interviews, the researchers compiled the answers and held a group discussion with 84 children and 40 guardians. Participants were asked to say which issues from the interviews were most important, such as what information families wanted most and which types of VR content they liked. Families wanted more details about how VR could affect neural development and behaviour. They saw these as major concerns because they could affect other parts of a child’s life, such as learning and making friends.
The findings showed that participants regularly believed that neurological growth and behaviour were closely linked. Families tied these issues to wider concerns, such as learning, getting along with others, and being happy. The study also found that knowing how VR affects the brain and behaviour helped families decide how much screen time is okay and how often kids should use VR. Many guardians in the study also worried that the technology could be addictive.
Safety in virtual worlds was another big worry. Families said that VR platforms should have safety tools to find bullying or harassment, instead of just depending on parents to watch for offensive content. Participants also saw that children want more freedom online, while parents still worry about their safety in cyberspaces.
The study also examined which features families considered most important when evaluating VR platforms. Physical activity was the top priority for guardians, indicating that they care about keeping children healthy and making sure they stay active while using VR.
Other things were also seen as good, such as letting children talk online with friends and family and providing educational content. However, the study found that social features and educational materials were not seen as more important than helping kids move around while using VR. Families had different opinions on who should handle worries about VR technology. Families said that companies that make VR platforms have a duty to the public, but some wondered whether business interests might prevent them from prioritising children’s well-being.
The study says that more research is needed to better understand how VR use might affect children’s and teenagers’ brains and behaviour. Researchers said that stronger evidence in this area would help families obtain clearer information and guide future research on virtual reality technology.
