What kids should know about Metaverse

Children are dreamers as well as creators! Imagine their delight when they discover that they can actually create a world of their imagination using Metaverse, a virtual environment in which people perform various tasks.  

The Metaverse can be extremely beneficial to children. It provides a plethora of opportunities for them to engage in, from playing online games with friends to taking virtual classes through educational platforms and much more.

What is Metaverse?

The metaverse refers to a shared virtual space that is created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space, including the sum of all virtual worlds, augmented realities, and the internet. 

Source: Luisa Zhou

It has gained popularity in science fiction and has recently gained mainstream attention as it enters new immersive platforms such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). It will alter the way we connect, communicate, and obtain information.

How can we access the metaverse?

The metaverse can be accessed through devices such as VR headsets, AR glasses, and computer screens.

What can do with the metaverse?

You can create a virtual world where you can live, work, shop, and connect with others from the comfort of your house.

There are 400 million active Metaverse users and the largest virtual Metaverse worlds are:

• Roblox: 230 million 
• Minecraft: 165 million
• Fortnite: 85 million
• Zepeto: 2 million
• Avakin Life: 10 million
• IMVU: 7 million
• Rec Room: 7 million

According to the Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, in 2021, 17% of children aged 8 to 18 owned a VR headset, and one in every five tweens (22%) and one in every four teens (27%) tried virtual reality.

It demonstrates that the Metaverse is a reality that is rapidly becoming a part of our daily lives.

Advantages of Metaverse

The metaverse has numerous potential applications, including entertainment, education, communication, and commerce. Because it is still a developing concept, it is difficult to say exactly what children should know about it. However, some aspects of the metaverse that children may find interesting include:

Hands-on experience: With the help of such technology, children can easily grasp abstract concepts in a more engaging manner. It provides almost real-life, hands-on experience for children, which can help them better understand the world around them and how things work.

Improves social skills: The Metaverse can help children enhance their social skills. The Metaverse, unlike social media, has the potential to provide a safe and controlled environment for children to interact with their peers and make new friends. It also helps children develop social intelligence.

Interaction opportunities: The metaverse allows you to interact with each other and with virtual objects in a virtual space as if they were physically present. There are many different virtual worlds and environments within the metaverse, each with its own rules, activities, and communities.

Children can interact with teachers, peers, and friends in a safe and authorized setting. It promotes creativity and grows children’s academic interests.

Entertaining: It can be a great way for parents to bond with their kids and teach them various skills and knowledge in a less stressful environment. As long as parents are aware of the potential dangers and take the necessary measures to keep their kids safe, the Metaverse can be a great place for kids to explore and learn.

Disadvantages of Metaverse

However, this new technology may have some drawbacks, such as cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content. There is no age assurance in the metaverse, which makes it easier for children to gain access to digital environments where adults or other people could endanger them. 

They may receive unwanted messages, such as bullying or grooming.

It’s worth noting that the metaverse is still in its early stages of development, and it is critical for children to be open-minded about the metaverse’s potential and future developments.

Ultimately, it will be up to parents and educators to guide children through the Metaverse in a safe and productive manner.

Moonpreneur is on a mission to disrupt traditional education and future-proof the next generation with holistic learning solutions. Its Innovator Program is building tomorrow’s workforce by training students in AI/ML, Robotics, Coding, IoT, and Apps, enabling entrepreneurship through experiential learning.