Virtual Worlds
Virtual worlds are services which offer Internet users a computer
simulated environment immitating the real world.
In the virtual world the user interacts by using an avatar in
online chats.
Virtual worlds are divided into two main types:
Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) –
These virtual worlds use point systems and competition in the simulation.
They have winners and losers.
Commercial MMOGs include Everquest and World of Warcraft.
Non-game worlds -
These virtual worlds are less game-like,
or not games at all.
They are more like social networking services like MySpace and Facebook, but with 3D simulation features. For example,
Second Life, ActiveWorlds and The Sims Online.
Risks:
- Children and teenagers can easily get absorbed in a virtual world. It is an enjoyable pass of time allowing them to try different points of view and avatars. The danger is when a kid is invested more in the virtual life than in real life. This may result in withdrawal from real life activities, poor social skills, loss of ability to detect between the real and the imaginary etc. It is important to limit the time a child or teenager spend surfing virtual worlds in order to keep the child's base in the real world.
- A lot of virtual worlds are not suited for children. There can be a lot of sexual content (sometimes cybersex activity), violence, drug abuse etc. The virtual worlds are more dangerous in this matter then other websites, since the child that is surfing the virtual world is actually engaging virtually in all kind of activities as an avatar. Since children and teenagers don’t have fully developed judgment skills, it can affect their real life. The experience in the virtual world can persuade them to try similar things in the real world. It is important to check to what content the child is exposed to when surfing the virtual world and to limit the time spend there.
- Private information may also be exposed in virtual worlds when a child is persuaded to give up his/her real identity to strangers. As in previous sections, it is important to emphasize to the child not to give away private information under any circumstances.