FTC Weighs in on Kids and Virtual Worlds

The FTC issued a congressionally mandated report today about online virtual worlds. ”Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks” details the types of content found in online virtual worlds, and the methods virtual world operators currently take to prevent youth access to explicit content. The report is the result of an FTC survey of 27 virtual worlds. The FTC found “at least one instance of either sexually or violently explicit content” in 19 of the 27 virtual worlds it studied. “It is far too easy for children and young teens to access explicit content in some of these virtual worlds,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz in the press release accompanying distribution of the report. The report, which we are studying, is available online here.

But Who Gets the Virtual House?

How can we ensure our online valuables aren’t “erased” when we die? The New York Times had an interesting essay on the legal status of digital assets like Facebook pages and property in virtual worlds — such as items you purchase with “Linden Dollars” on Second Life. The issue is not academic. The article says that the virtual goods market in the US “is expected surpass $1 billion this year,” citing sources.

Are digital executors next? Stay tuned.