Virtual reality can pose a real danger to children.

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office recently said it planned to hold "further discussions" with Meta about the Quest 2 VR headset's compliance with a new Children's Code that prioritizes the "best interests" of young users. Parents and doctors are also keeping a close eye on the growing popularity of virtual reality among children.

"With VR, there are potential hazards from the use of the headset itself, as well as the content being viewed," Jonathan Maynard, a pediatrician at Providence Mission Hospital in Orange County, CA, told Lifewire in an email interview. "There is still limited research on the long-term health effects of VR use in children; however, some potential risks are clear. In fact, being blindfolded and disoriented by the device could lead to physical harm from unintentional falls or collisions during play."

The Information Commissioners' Office told The Guardian it would contact Meta about whether the device complies with its age-appropriate design code, which states that the "best interests of the child must be a primary consideration" for online services that minors may use.