Beyond the Headset: Charting a course for safer experiences for children in extended reality environments  

young girl with VR headset

WeProtect Global Alliance – Briefing

August 13, 2024

Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including virtual, augmented and mixed reality, are experiencing rapid growth and investment, with the global market projected to surpass $1.1 trillion by 2030.  

Despite the potential for innovation, XR also presents significant risks to children such as the distribution of child sexual abuse material and the simulated abuse of virtual children. The immersive and private nature of XR environments, especially with VR headsets, exacerbates these risks, while the interoperability between platforms complicates accountability for user safety. 

In May 2024, WeProtect Global Alliance brought together stakeholders from various sectors to address XR threats and develop strategies to protect children, highlighting the need for collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders, and child safety organizations. 

This summary paper outlines the roundtable discussion, highlighting potential harms in XR environments and current mitigations, such as content moderation, age assurance, and Safety by Design. It also explores opportunities to create safer XR environments and the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to protect young users.