United States - FTC Reports Finds Sexually and Violently Explicit Content in Online Virtual Worlds Accessed by Minors

The Federal Trade Commission issued a report that examines the incidence of sexually and violently explicit content in online virtual worlds. The congressionally mandated report, a Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks, urges operators of virtual worlds to take a number of steps to keep explicit content away from children and teens, and recommends that parents familiarize themselves with the virtual worlds their kids visit. The report analyzes how easily minors can access explicit content in virtual worlds, and the measures virtual world operators take to prevent minors from viewing it. According to the findings, although little explicit content appeared in child-oriented virtual worlds, a moderate to heavy amount appeared in virtual worlds that are designed for teens and adults.

For more information, please go to: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/12/virtualworlds.shtm.