Free Guy or Bad Guy: Safety, Privacy, and Security Risks for Minors in the Metaverse and Prominent Educational Considerations

Abstract

The opportunities online platforms and services provide to minors for socialisation, entertainment, and education are plentiful. At the same time, the emergence of the Metaverse raises concerns for minors’ security, safety, privacy, and wellbeing. This paper aims to highlight prominent threats to minors on the Internet, and how these can manifest in the Metaverse. The paper also discusses key countermeasures for mitigating these risks emphasising the need for raising awareness and developing resilience through timely, relevant, and dynamically responsive education