Facebook Oculus change worries some parents
Parents are furious over a Facebook rule change: Kids who play the Oculus virtual reality games will soon need to have a Facebook account.
Even if parents didn’t want their kids on social media, buying the Oculus player and games effectively puts them into a world of hustling for “likes” that they’re just not ready for.
Last year’s Oculus Quest was a surprise hit for Facebook, which had trouble keeping the units in stock. The sequel, Quest 2, will be in stores Oct. 19.
Stacey Luchs, whose 13-year-old son has been asking for Oculus for years, was ready to make the purchase until this wrinkle was added. “It really touched a nerve, and I feel very resentful towards Facebook,” says Luchs, a single mom who runs the Los Angelesbased Dialogue PR marketing firm. “My son is not ready for social media, because of what it brings.”
Facebook, which bought Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion, had required users to have Oculus accounts, similar to other gaming systems it. For Xbox, a Microsoft account is required, similar to Sony and Play Station and Nintendo games. Those companies “don’t operate social media networks,” Luchs says. “This forces parents to make a choice, and it makes me uncomfortable.”
Facebook says the change becomes effective in October, but people can continue using their Oculus accounts until Jan. 1, 2023. Those who insist on their Oculus accounts will find that “some” games and apps will no longer work. “Giving people a single way to log into Oculus – using their Facebook account and password – will make it easier to find, connect and play with friends in VR,” Facebook says.
Kids and young adults are the target audience for Oculus games, and Facebook’s rules put a minimum age of 13 to qualify for an account. The social network posted a lengthy FAQ on its website about the changes, where it acknowledged that when players sign in with a Facebook account, the social network can track their behavior.
Walnut Creek, California-based Elizabeth Boukis says she preordered a unit, then found about the rule change. She doesn’t allow her 11-year-old on social media and is “contemplating what to do . ... Aside from being on social media, between Facebook’s less than stellar privacy and the fact that they have already confirmed that they track Oculus activity to feed advertising to users outside of the headset ... they have really put us in a corner if our kids want to experience Oculus.”
One option for parents, beyond saying no: a new account, under their name, which they share with their kids. “For example: you might be Monique Smith on Facebook, but WarriorMama365 in VR,”
Facebook says on its FAQ page. Facebook didn’t address parents’ concerns in its FAQ. USA TODAY asked the social network to comment.
The social network said it will put “special protections” in place for minors to “limit contact” from adults they aren’t connected to.