The Basics
Let’s begin with the basics – what is a virtual world?
Put simply, a virtual world is a place where people create a character (avatar) and interact with other people or their surroundings. Often based in magical or fantasy realms, virtual worlds do not necessarily follow the rules we humans are stuck with in the real world – gravity, aging, time, distance, or human appearance. Imagine a fairytale where you become a character and choose your own adventures – now put that on the computer, and you’ve got a virtual world.
So there’s our reality – the bills, the in-laws, the diapers – and then there are these totally separate worlds online? Well, not quite. While the line between “real” and virtual may have once been clear-cut, that boundary is not so obvious these days. With many virtual worlds offering the opportunity to meet and mingle with your real-life friends in a simulated environment, relationships are affected by virtual game play. Perhaps even more peculiar, you can now use cold hard cash to buy virtual items– an exotic pet for your avatar, a never-before-seen virtual sofa for your room, an exclusive pair of virtual boots to make you fly – things you will never physically see, touch, or wear.
With the wild success of virtual worlds for both kids and adults in recent years, it seems virtual worlds are here to stay. Businesses and schools have already begun to embrace this new technology, recognizing its ability to bring people across the world together for lectures, meetings, and even hands-on training. Dozens of colleges and universities have even begun building virtual campuses inside some of the most popular virtual worlds for adults. It’s not a stretch to think that by the time our children are in college, students will be able to interact with their classmates, professors and even subject matter entirely in virtual spaces. Imagine being able to learn about digestion by navigating through a virtual body – it sure would beat those dull biology textbooks!
Risks & Benefits
As virtual worlds become commonplace, it is important to weigh the benefits and dangers before logging in. Virtual worlds are susceptible to the general dangers of the internet – intrusions on privacy and predators. Plus, with the huge amount of interaction between kids in many virtual worlds, issues like cyberbullying can become a much larger problem. That being said, most kid-focused virtual worlds have protections in place to cut down on cyberbullying by limiting communication, especially communication of personal details. As with television, radio or any other medium, virtual worlds can be a great experience, but parents and kids alike must be aware and wary of the potential dangers.
Despite these dangers, virtual worlds arguably offer a number of important benefits – especially for kids. Your child will learn responsibility by caring for a virtual pet, acquire social skills by meeting new friends, and build confidence by shaping his or her own identity. Even better, a few kid-friendly virtual worlds involve currency systems based on playing educational games or fulfilling missions to earn moola. Kids are so focused on earning enough to buy the latest pet, fashion or decoration that they don’t even notice they are learning! All this, not to mention the fact that these kids will be better prepared for a tech-savvy classroom or workplace.
Getting Started
Does it sound like a virtual world might be a good match for your family? If so, here’s where to start:
- Do your homework. Ask around the schoolyard and check out published reviews from other parents. Pay special attention to safety features the program offers – pre-programmed or limited chat, moderators, parental log-in and controls– and determine if the site is offered by a brand you can trust.
- Once you’ve located the ideal virtual world for your child, set some ground rules. Make sure to have a balance between “screen” play (computer and TV) and “real world” play.
- Talk to your child about online safety and the importance of keeping personal information private. Establish an action plan should your child ever feel uncomfortable online: turn off the monitor immediately and tell a trusted adult what happened.
- Finally, as your child embarks on a new adventure in the virtual world, it is important to keep the lines of communication open. Talk with your child about his or her experiences in the virtual space, ask about the decisions and friends he or she is making – you just might find out something that surprises you!
Filed under: Behind the Scenes Tagged: | advice, health, technology
