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Article analysis:

The Washington Post article titled "Meta doesn’t want to police the metaverse. Kids are paying the price" provides a critical analysis of Meta's approach to moderation in its virtual reality-powered social media game, Horizon Worlds. The article highlights concerns raised by parents and experts about the prevalence of bigotry, harassment, and sexually explicit content in the app, which is reportedly being used by children and teens despite Meta's age restrictions.

The article presents evidence from researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate who recorded incidents of minors being exposed to prejudiced comments, harassment, or sexually explicit content in Horizon Worlds. However, it does not provide information on how prevalent these incidents are compared to other virtual reality programs or online platforms.

The article also notes that Meta has argued that empowering users to control their own environments is the best way to protect people in virtual reality. This approach is contrasted with Meta's more aggressive moderation strategies on its social media networks, Facebook and Instagram. The article suggests that this moderation strategy could prove dangerous for children using Horizon Worlds.

The article includes quotes from child-welfare activists and regulators who have urged Meta to drop its plan to open up Horizon Worlds to younger users between 13 and 17. However, it does not present any counterarguments from those who support Meta's approach or believe that children can be protected through user empowerment tools.

The article also highlights concerns about the psychological effects of harassment and bullying in virtual reality on victims. It cites research suggesting that victims often experience similar psychological effects as they would in real-life attacks. However, it does not provide evidence for this claim or explore potential counterarguments.

Overall, the article provides a critical analysis of Meta's approach to moderation in Horizon Worlds but may be biased towards presenting negative aspects of the app without exploring potential benefits or counterarguments. It also raises important questions about how best to protect children using virtual reality apps while acknowledging that there are no easy answers.