Meta Whistleblower Claims VR Child Safety Research Was Hidden by Company: Report

Washington Post states multiple current and former Meta employees say the company ignored research showing that its virtual reality platforms may endanger children.

Meta is pushing back against whistleblower claims that it ignored, downplayed and concealed internal research showing its virtual reality platforms may be harmful to minors.

According to a report published in the Washington Post, at least six current and former employees have provided information to a U.S. congressional committee, alleging that Meta suppressed research showing its virtual reality platforms can expose children to sexual abuse and other forms of trauma.

Meta Platforms owns and operates multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp. The company was founded as Facebook in 2004, but changed its name to Meta in 2021, amid a push into virtual reality (VR) and the “metaverse,” following the company’s acquisition of VR headset company Oculus.

Despite the company’s success, the allegations from VR whistleblowers are not the first time Meta has faced controversy over how its platforms affect children and teens.

Facebook, Instagram and other social media networks outside of Meta, including YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok, currently face multiple allegations of intentionally designing their platforms in ways that take advantage of children’s vulnerabilities, resulting in excessive use, emotional harm, and in some cases, online sexual exploitation. Social media addiction lawsuits further contend that these platforms lack adequate safety controls or meaningful parental oversight tools.

According to the Washington Post, the same problems linked to Meta’s social media platforms may also be present in its virtual reality products.

The article states that current and former Meta employees have provided documents to a U.S. congressional committee showing that children and teens have been propositioned for sex through the company’s interactive virtual reality platforms. The employees allege Meta tried to bury these findings and, in some cases, even blocked internal investigations into the allegations.

Sources say the company has ignored both internal and external reports that “child-like voices” are often heard in Meta’s virtual reality worlds, which are supposed to be populated exclusively by individuals over the age of 18, indicating that children are bypassing age restrictions the company imposes.

In addition, whistleblowers claim that Meta has appointed lawyers to oversee any investigations into children’s involvement in these virtual worlds, so that documents and conversations regarding the issue remain confidential to the company under attorney-client privilege rules.

In statements to the Washington Post, Meta has denied any wrongdoing with regard to investigations into underage users on its virtual reality platforms.

Online Child Sexual Exploitation Lawsuits

The allegations raised against Meta’s virtual reality platforms mirror those plaguing online gaming company Roblox.

Roblox was originally released in 2006, as a video game construction set that allows users to build their own games, explore player-created worlds and interact with others through customizable avatars and in-game purchases.

The app, and others like it, are marketed as safe and family-friendly. However, there are now more than 300 Roblox child exploitation lawsuits being pursued by families who say the company failed to take reasonable steps to protect children from sexual predators.

Some of these allegations are similar to those being pursued nationwide against social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and others, which claim the sites are actually designed to addict users and prioritize monetization strategies over the health and safety of users, who are disproportionately young children.

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