Meta Introduces New Age Rating System for Mature Content in Horizon Worlds

Meta has announced revisions to its content guidelines for Horizon Worlds, unveiling a fresh content rating framework tailored for “mature audiences”.

In a communication dispatched to Horizon Worlds users, Meta highlighted the necessity for creators to assign an age rating to their virtual realms, delineating suitability for all age groups or specifically for mature users aged 18 and above. Failure to take action and update existing worlds within the stipulated one-month period will result in an automatic assignment of an 18+ rating, irrespective of the content therein. Creators will locate the new rating feature within the World tab in Build mode, with the flexibility to modify it at their discretion.

Meta’s Mature Worlds Policy for Horizon is accessible here, accompanied by illustrative examples outlining permissible content within mature social spaces in Horizon Worlds, as well as content categorically prohibited even with an 18+ tag.

Permissible content includes:

• Content with sexual undertones, such as suggestive imagery, depictions of individuals in implicit or suggestive scenarios, or environments centered on activities of a suggestive nature.
• Worlds dedicated to or predominantly featuring the promotion of substances like marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, or age-regulated activities (including gambling).
• Fictional content characterized by intense or excessively violent themes, including graphic depictions of blood and gore, capable of eliciting shock or disgust in users.

Prohibited content encompasses:

• Explicitly sexual or provocative content, including nudity, explicit depictions of individuals, or content/worlds designed to provoke sexual arousal.
• Content depicting or advocating the use of illicit drugs or the abuse of prescription medications.
• Content endorsing criminal or hazardous activities.
• Realistic portrayals of intense violence, including graphic depictions of blood and gore.
• Content attempting to facilitate the exchange, sale, or trade of regulated real-life goods such as firearms, blades, alcohol, or tobacco.

This update coincides with Meta’s transition from Facebook accounts to Meta accounts for its Quest VR headsets, necessitating users to provide their name and date of birth for age verification purposes. Notably, while Facebook mandated the use of individuals’ everyday names in its previous policy, Meta accounts do not impose such a requirement.

Previously, access to Horizon Worlds was restricted to adults through the use of Facebook accounts as a gatekeeping mechanism. It remains to be seen how Meta will enforce these policies moving forward with the shift to Meta accounts. Nevertheless, Meta recommends that Quest users be at least 13 years old, introducing recent features aimed at granting parents enhanced oversight over teenagers using Quest headsets.