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

2026-04-27

AI Summary

This study addresses the ethical challenges posed by extended reality (XR) games, which, while offering immersive experiences, may impair children’s capacity to discern reality and expose them to inappropriate content—risks inadequately mitigated by existing ethical frameworks. Through analysis of player and developer forums, semi-structured interviews with children, and participatory observation, the research identifies key design patterns that contribute to safety risks and elucidates how these harmful mechanisms emerge collaboratively. Proposing a new ethical paradigm centered on children’s developmental needs, the work emphasizes designer awareness and cross-sector collaboration. It systematically links harmful design features to children’s lived experiences of harm, providing empirical evidence and actionable recommendations for platforms and policymakers to address the gaps in current ethical guidance within immersive social environments.

Technology Category

• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Safety, Robustness & Trustworthiness
• Humans and AI: Game Design — Virtual Humans, NPCs and Autonomous Characters
• Machine Learning: Ethics, Bias, and Fairness

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Fairness and ethical considerations in crowd work and in human-in-the-loop AI systems
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization
• Responsible Web: Mitigating online harms, including harassment, spam, and fake reviews

Abstract

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.

Problem

• Children's Online Safety
• Extended Reality (XR)
• XR Games
• Ethical Considerations
• Immersive Technology

Innovation

• child-centered design
• XR safety risks
• ethical frameworks
• immersive gaming
• design patterns