Chances are that someone in your family got a virtual reality (VR) headset last Christmas. And if they did, they’re using it to play video games, communicate and explore an immersive new world (broadly known as the metaverse). This will soon be reflective of the planet we live on, with augmented elements we can hardly imagine yet.

Of course, that’s all super exciting. Couldn’t get a ticket to Harry Styles’ latest world tour? You’ll be able to watch in the metaverse (and won’t have to queue for the bathroom). Imagine walking your avatar through virtual shopping centres, trying on outfits. Can’t afford flights abroad? Fear not, a VR headset will help you explore anywhere in the world.

Technological advances help us live our best lives, but they make things complicated, too. It’s a sad fact that exploitative, abusive and illegal activity will exist in this expanding virtual world—and already does.

Just last month, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) published evidence that children are being abused in the metaverse, after obtaining police data following a Freedom of Information request. Child abuse image offences have skyrocketed, with 30,000 reported in 2022.

The scariest part? This isn’t only happening in perceived ‘dark corners’ of the virtual world. Massively popular platforms like Fortnite and Roblox make it all too easy for predators to approach vulnerable people, and children. It’s happening on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

These spaces are basically unregulated, because it’s all so new. Last year, a reporter posed as a 13-year-old girl in a VR app, as part of a BBC investigation. Within minutes, they’d been exposed to explicit content, racist insults and the threat of rape.

The pressure is on for big tech companies to do more to protect their users. Rani Govender, Senior Child Safety Online Policy Officer at the NSPCC, told SCREENSHOT: “Sadly, we know children are contacting Childline about grooming and child abuse images while crimes are rising on the most popular social media sites. We cannot allow VR and the metaverse to become the next tools of choice for offenders to target children for abuse while Silicon Valley executives mouth empty platitudes about safety.”

Govender continued: “Big tech has failed to get its house in order which is why we need a tough Online Safety Bill which includes an expert child safety advocate that can stand up for children and families.”

But online regulation is tricky, and it’s going to take time. Take age verification, for example. You’d think this was a simple way to safeguard young users, but it also throws up a ton of concerns around anonymity and personal privacy, and the potential for ID documents and sensitive data to be leaked. Some apps require a selfie to unlock potentially problematic features; Roblox asks for one to activate voice chats, but that hasn’t stopped slurs and lewd comments once users are approved.

Meanwhile, problems are multiplying. In February 2023, SCREENSHOT covered the impact deepfake porn has had on the life of female streamer QTCinderella. Her likeness was used to make hyper-realistic fake porn videos which racked up millions of views within hours. With minimal protection or laws in place, there’s little she can do to gain justice.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to determine what is real in the virtual world. Online romance scams like pig butchering are more common than ever. AI-generated photographs threaten to create false narratives about the past. In fact, AI is getting so good, it can beat humans at board games.

So what can we do about all this? I asked the NSPCC for its latest advice. The charity explained that you can protect yourself and the younger or more vulnerable people in your life, by learning as much as possible—try out your little brother’s new headset; ask your cousin which games they’re playing and who they’re chatting to. Your parents might not know that online games and virtual environments offer parental controls to minimise exposure to inappropriate content. Why not find out how to access them and help set them up?

The key is to prioritise life in the real world as much as possible, taking regular breaks from the virtual one. Use strong passwords, never reveal personal information, and block and report any suspicious accounts or activity. Pass these practices down to younger siblings, family members and friends, explaining why they are important and warning them of the dangers they might face.

If you know any parents or guardians worried about kids’ safety online, you can help by sharing the NSPCC’s tips:

Spending less time on screens is a great way to improve well-being, both online and offline. Try setting some limits and boundaries surrounding screen time and make use of the well-being settings on apps such as Instagram and TikTok, or on your devices.

Children can see things online that make them feel upset, angry, or that cause low self-esteem. If this happens, encourage them to mute or block accounts that do this. They can also use settings that prevent words, phrases, or posts they don’t want to see cropping up. Encourage them to make their online space a positive one.

Remind your child that not everything they see or hear online is true. Encourage them to question what they’re viewing on a regular basis. This includes content that might be making them feel bad about themselves or like they’re missing out. If this does happen, you could talk to your child about filters, Photoshopped images or the fact that people usually post about the best bits of their lives rather than the boring, everyday bits.

If your child makes a mistake online, such as getting into an argument or sharing personal information, be understanding. You could use this mistake as a learning opportunity! This is a part of building digital resilience, which will help you all feel better about being online.

Your children look to you as an example. Make sure you’re acting on your own online wellbeing advice by doing things like taking breaks and not engaging with negative content.

Have regular chats with your child about what they like doing online and how it makes them feel. Don’t forget to talk about the positives of being online as much as the negatives, and really listen to what they’re telling you. Children use the internet in a different way from adults and if you show them that you understand the importance of their time online, it might help with more difficult conversations further down the line.

The NSPCC made this quiz, designed to be taken as a family, which includes more tips. Need advice? You’ll find information on the NSPCC’s online safety page.