Why UN Virtual Worlds Day matters: Transforming children's futures through virtual worlds

The United Nations Virtual Worlds Day, presented by Imternational Telecommunication Union and 联合国儿童基金会 among many other organizations, is a pioneering event that underscores how emerging technologies can catalyze a new era of sustainable development and international cooperation. It represents a significant milestone that highlights the profound impact of virtual worlds, like the metaverse, on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (XR) and blockchain technologies, these innovations create immersive environments that can significantly benefit children, particularly in healthcare and education.?

??In healthcare, technologies like VR and AR can enhance surgical precision, facilitate training in complex procedures, and provide innovative approaches to mental health therapy by providing safe environments where children can learn to manage their symptoms. ?

??While in education, virtual worlds can foster immersive learning experiences, allowing children to explore museums, historical events, and remote locations virtually– which enhances educational engagement and promotes playful development and socialization.?

Through the collaboration of regulators, academia, and the private sector, the event addressed policy and regulatory challenges presented by the metaverse and virtual worlds. This cooperation and proactive approach are essential for safeguarding children's rights and interests, unlocking the benefits of virtual worlds while mitigating associated risks. Early awareness, understanding, and continued engagement are critical components of our efforts.

Navigating the metaverse’s challenges and opportunities?

The metaverse, defined by the ITU Focus Group as "an integrative ecosystem of virtual worlds offering immersive experiences to users that modify pre-existing and create new value from economic, environmental, social, and cultural perspectives" represents a transformative change with extensive possibilities and challenges.?

One of the greatest obstacles lies in achieving universal access, exacerbated by the digital divide. Addressing responsible technology governance, privacy concerns, ethical considerations, and mental health is essential to harness its full benefits.?

The SDGs #3 and #4 stress how virtual worlds can play a crucial role in advancing progress across diverse goals. The metaverse and virtual worlds could provide innovative solutions to combat poverty, enhance food security, revolutionize healthcare, and transform education, among many others, showcasing their transformative potential. Utilizing these tools effectively can pave the way toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future for all, including children.?

Based on the UN Executive Briefing on Unlocking the Potential of Virtual Worlds and the Metaverse for the Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs that are most pertinent to children are the following:?

Goal 3??: Good Health and Well-being. The metaverse holds promise in expanding telemedicine successes, providing remote healthcare access, and bridging gaps in healthcare for underserved populations, including children. Ensuring inclusivity, accessibility, data protection, and security of healthcare services in these digital environments is critical.??

Goal 4??: Quality Education. Virtual worlds offer unprecedented opportunities to deliver innovative learning experiences globally. The potential for immersive learning experiences in the metaverse could enhance knowledge retention, foster creativity, and nurture critical thinking skills among children. Overcoming challenges such as the digital divide, ethical concerns, and risks to safety and privacy is vital.?

Prioritizing children in the UN Virtual Worlds Day agenda?

The UN Virtual Worlds Day placed emphasis on children in many panels and discussions. ?

The “Award Ceremony of the UN metaverse Think-a-thon”, brought together young people to use their ideas and virtual world technologies to develop innovative solutions for the SDGs. It offered a unique chance for young innovators to use virtual technologies and new approaches to create practical solutions, propose actionable insights, and promote a shared vision for developing smarter, more sustainable cities and communities.?

The “Digital Solutions – Real Impact: Leveraging Virtual Worlds for Global Change” session highlighted the importance of designing with a people-centered approach, emphasizing interoperability and partnerships. It featured transformative case studies showcasing how virtual worlds, the metaverse, and spatial computing are addressing global challenges that affect children too. Experts delved into lessons learned, emerging challenges, and the substantial opportunities for sustainable development facilitated by virtual worlds and the metaverse.

If you want to know more about the UN Virtual Worlds Day visit the site??https://www.itu.int/metaverse/un-virtual-worlds-day/ ?

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