Children's Online Safety Risks and Ethical Considerations in XR Games

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Zhang, Zinan, Gui, Xinning, Kou, Yubo
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Zhang, Zinan
Gui, Xinning
Kou, Yubo
author_facet Zhang, Zinan
Gui, Xinning
Kou, Yubo
contents Emerging extended reality technologies are reshaping how children play, learn, and socialize. Yet, they also present serious safety risks. Gaming, a primary form of entertainment for children, is also one of the key applications of XR. While XR platforms offer immersive and engaging gaming experiences, recent news has highlighted safety concerns such as car accidents, lower judgment for real-world situations, and exposure to disturbing content like virtual rape. This research examines how XR game design may lead to online safety risks for children. Through analysis of player forums, game developer forums, and interviews with child players, we identify harmful XR design patterns, explore how developers collaboratively generate and implement risky game ideas, and document children's firsthand experiences of online safety risks. Existing ethical frameworks often fail to address the immersive and socially dynamic nature of XR games. We advocate for a child-centered, design-aware approach to ethical considerations in XR games, urging platforms and policymakers to prioritize children's developmental needs. Our work aims to help shape safer, more inclusive XR environments through research and cross-sector collaboration.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_24601
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Children's Online Safety Risks and Ethical Considerations in XR Games
Zhang, Zinan
Gui, Xinning
Kou, Yubo
Human-Computer Interaction
Emerging extended reality technologies are reshaping how children play, learn, and socialize. Yet, they also present serious safety risks. Gaming, a primary form of entertainment for children, is also one of the key applications of XR. While XR platforms offer immersive and engaging gaming experiences, recent news has highlighted safety concerns such as car accidents, lower judgment for real-world situations, and exposure to disturbing content like virtual rape. This research examines how XR game design may lead to online safety risks for children. Through analysis of player forums, game developer forums, and interviews with child players, we identify harmful XR design patterns, explore how developers collaboratively generate and implement risky game ideas, and document children's firsthand experiences of online safety risks. Existing ethical frameworks often fail to address the immersive and socially dynamic nature of XR games. We advocate for a child-centered, design-aware approach to ethical considerations in XR games, urging platforms and policymakers to prioritize children's developmental needs. Our work aims to help shape safer, more inclusive XR environments through research and cross-sector collaboration.
title Children's Online Safety Risks and Ethical Considerations in XR Games
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24601