Exploring the Perspectives of Social VR-Aware Non-Parent Adults and Parents on Children's Use of Social Virtual Reality
This study investigates the age-appropriateness and safety risks of social virtual reality (VR) for children under 13, focusing on perceptual disparities between parents and non-parent adults regarding age restrictions, supervision willingness, and protective measures. A mixed-methods approach was employed: an online survey (N=149, including 79 parents) augmented with qualitative thematic analysis and statistical modeling. Contrary to expectations, results reveal a counterintuitive inverse relationship—higher parental VR familiarity correlates with greater willingness to relax age thresholds or reduce supervisory intensity. High-risk scenarios frequently reported include peer harassment, unwanted physical or interpersonal contact, and excessive self-disclosure. Based on these findings, we propose a four-dimensional child safety enhancement framework: *proactive control*, *real-time monitoring*, *post-incident traceability*, and *collaborative digital literacy education*. We further derive empirically grounded, tiered intervention guidelines for platform developers and caregiver households.