Now Streaming ‘Beyond Connected’ [Ep 3]: Beyond the Headset – A Grandmother’s Warning for Every Parent

Welcome back to Beyond Connected! Thanks for listening in, and if you like what you hear, come back every Wednesday for a new episode.

As much as I appreciate the ways in which technology enriches our lives, I also strongly believe that if we don’t keep a close eye on what these tech companies are doing behind-the-scenes, we’re in trouble. Today on the show, I talked with Kim W., a grandmother from Kansas whose grandson was recently targeted by a child predator while using Meta’s Oculus VR headset.

Luckily, Kim was able to swoop in and protect her family, but not every child has such a watchful guardian. Kim walks us through this harrowing story and offers guidance to parents to help prevent these kinds of situations. For our comprehensive guide to VR safety, head over to our website. I also explain the massive AWS outage from last week and what you can do to protect yourself in the future. Plus, stick around for a fun little round-up of viral videos to send you off with a laugh or two.

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

Here’s what Meta’s spokesperson told us in response to this story:

We want young people to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on our platform, including letting parents set up parent-managed accounts on Quest for their children ages 10-12. Preteens need a parent’s permission to create an account, parents can choose what apps their preteen can download, and they can block apps at any time. Parents can also watch their preteen’s Quest experience in real time and report anyone who breaks our rules – as we understand happened in this instance. If we become aware of a preteen using an account meant for someone 13 or older, we’ll take steps to ensure they’re in the right experience.” – Meta Spokesperson

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms, and catch up on previous episodes.

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