Social and Ethical Considerations in Virtual Worlds

While networking technology facilitates the use of online services such as real-time instant messaging and anywhere-anytime multiplayer gaming, societal and ethical issues can influence the desirability of providing these services unmonitored to minors (i.e. users whose parents are legally responsible for them). In many countries and provinces, access to alcohol, tobacco and pornographic products is regulated by organizations that have prescribed guidelines restricting access to these goods. Such regulations aim to protect adolescents from making less objective decisions than those made by adults. Consequently, age restrictions usually account for the type of measure forbidding the sale of such products. The unmonitored distribution of electronic materials through the Internet has become a 21 century issue — since age is not easily verifiable, enforcing age restrictions on users is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible to monitor. The subsequent ramifications resulting from a lack of enforcement are numerous to all users of the Internet. This paper analyzes the current state-of-affairs of online virtual worlds in terms of what many people deem acceptable and unacceptable forms of behavior. An emphasis on these important issues will hopefully enlighten the public as well as providers of various Internet-related services.