Oculus Safety Center | Oculus

archived 9 May 2022 00:05:25 UTC
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Welcome to the Oculus Safety Center

Learn how to stay safe and customize your privacy settings while using your Oculus devices
Products
Safety
Interacting with Others
Privacy Settings

Product Health & Safety

Learn how to stay safe while using your Oculus device.
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SAFETY

Learn the best ways to use your Oculus device to keep yourself safe in VR.

To stay safe in VR, take time to review the health and safety information for your device. Pick a clear space. Use Guardian (if available). Read and follow prompts, warnings, and instructions in Home and in your content experiences. Remember, Oculus devices are designed for ages 13+. Use Comfort Ratings to help choose the right experiences for you.

Intro to Guardian

Your physical safety is important when you’re using your Oculus headset. That’s why you need to set up a Guardian boundary for content and experiences which you move around in the real world at the same time as you’re moving around in the virtual world. This virtual boundary will help you stay within your cleared play area. It will appear in your VR experience when you’re near or touching its edge.
When setting up your Guardian boundary, leave extra space against walls and around most objects (except those that you have set up for interaction while in virtual reality (read more in Mixed Reality)). Keep in mind that Guardian may not be able to detect people or pets that enter your play area, so choose a play area that you can keep clear even when your headset is on.

Setting up a Safe Play Area

Always clear your play area of objects that you won’t be interacting with before putting on your headset. Be sure to check for any obstructions you might hit with your arms outstretched, too. When setting up your Guardian boundary, leave extra space against walls and around objects. Keep in mind that Guardian may not be able to detect people or pets that enter your play area, so choose a play area that you can keep clear even when your headset is on.

Taking care of your Oculus device

In light of continuing developments around the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, we encourage you to ensure that your Oculus device is clean by following the instructions here and in your device manual. Devices should not be shared between persons who may have contagious conditions. Get more information on precautions you can take from the XR Association, health authorities in your area and bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) or your national disease prevention body.
Like other gaming and media products, your Oculus device is sensitive electronic equipment. Get the most out of your device by cleaning it properly, storing it safely, and keeping it out of spots that might leave it vulnerable to damage.
  • Keep your device out of direct sunlight, and keep it away from sharp objects or sources of heat or liquids.
  • You can clean the lens with an optical lens microfiber cloth. Don't use liquids.
  • You can clean the rest of the device with non-abrasive anti-bacterial wipes. Don't use alcohol or abrasive cleaning solutions.

Comfortable

Comfortable experiences are appropriate for most people, although this rating doesn’t mean that an experience is going to be comfortable for everyone. These experiences generally avoid camera movement, player motion, or disorienting content and effects.

Moderate

Moderate experiences are appropriate for many but certainly not everyone. These experiences might incorporate some camera movement, player motion, or occasionally disorienting content and effects.

Intense

Intense experiences aren’t entirely comfortable for many people, especially those who are new to VR. These experiences incorporate significant camera movement, player motion, or disorienting content and effects.

Comfortable

Comfortable experiences are appropriate for most people, although this rating doesn’t mean that an experience is going to be comfortable for everyone. These experiences generally avoid camera movement, player motion, or disorienting content and effects.

Moderate

Moderate experiences are appropriate for many but certainly not everyone. These experiences might incorporate some camera movement, player motion, or occasionally disorienting content and effects.

Intense

Intense experiences aren’t entirely comfortable for many people, especially those who are new to VR. These experiences incorporate significant camera movement, player motion, or disorienting content and effects.
Designed for Age 13+
Oculus content is rated through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and is designed for ages 13 and older. Oculus Store content has content ratings, so you’ll know what type of experience you or your teen selects. While we know that children under 13 may want to use Oculus devices, we do not permit them to create accounts or use Oculus devices.
Health & Safety Warnings
To have the best experience in VR, it’s important to know how to set up your Oculus device and your play area, and how to prepare yourself for VR. You should read and follow the health and safety information about your Oculus device, and make sure that you share it with anyone you let use your Oculus device. Following and sharing this information will promote safe experiences for you and your friends.

Sharing your Oculus device with friends & family

In light of continuing developments around the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, we encourage you to take care to ensure that your Oculus device is clean by following the instructions here and in your device manual. Devices should not be shared between persons who may have contagious conditions. Get more information on precautions you can take from the XR Association health authorities in your area and bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) or your national disease prevention body.
One of the best things about experiences with Oculus devices is introducing your friends and family to the experiences you love. Of course, everyone starts as a beginner, so you'll want to help them get started. Make sure they know key health and safety info. Before sharing, clean the headset for them following the instructions in the Safety & Warranty Guide or show them how to do it themselves. Help them set up a safe, clear play area. Teach them about content comfort levels so they can choose the right content for them. And, of course, let them know they can find more information here at the Oculus Safety Center.

Sharing your Oculus device with friends & family

One of the best things about experiences with Oculus devices is introducing your friends and family to the experiences you love. Of course, everyone starts as a beginner, so you'll want to help them get started. Make sure they know key health and safety info. Before sharing, clean the headset for them following the instructions in the Safety & Warranty Guide or show them how to do it themselves. Help them set up a safe, clear play area. Teach them about content comfort levels so they can choose the right content for them. And, of course, let them know they can find more information here at the Oculus Safety Center.
INTERACTING WITH OTHERS

Keep yourself and others safe by following the Facebook Community Standards and the Conduct in VR Policy

We announced some important updates to how people log into Oculus devices, while still keeping their VR profile. Some changes will start October 2020. Read more here.
For example, instead of having a separate Oculus Code of Conduct, we have adopted Facebook’s Community Standards and a new additional VR-focused policy. This will allow us to continue to take the unique considerations of VR into account while offering a more consistent way to report bad behavior, hold people accountable, and help create a more welcoming environment across our platforms.
With Oculus, we're creating new ways for people to defy distance and connect with each other and the world around them. Through virtual reality, we can radically redefine the way people work, play and connect. This is a new environment for many people and it’s important to have clear guidelines for respectful behavior. We want everyone to feel safe while they enjoy an immersive virtual experience.
The Facebook Community Standards outline what is and is not allowed on Facebook apps and technologies, and apply to both content and conduct in VR. You can read the full Community Standards here. To help you better understand how the Community Standards apply to conduct in a virtual space, we highlighted areas of our policy and how they apply to conduct in VR.
Oculus users come from many different backgrounds, so make sure that your conduct (as well as any content created or shared) is appropriate for a diverse audience and does not violate the Community Standards. Do not:
Harass or bully other users through conduct, including:
Stalking or repeatedly following others against their wishes
Cornering, blocking normal movement, physically intimidating or invading personal space without consent
Encouraging intimidation or bullying of others, including threats to SWAT, hack, dox, or DDOS.
Conduct yourself in an offensive or abusive way, including:
Sexualizing minors in any way. In cases of sexual exploitation of children, we report content to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.
Supporting or representing hateful ideologies or groups by using symbols or attacking people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, caste, sex, gender, gender identity, and serious disease or disability.
Impersonate a Facebook employee, partner, representative, or other real person, or encourage other users to do so.
If we find that you have violated the Facebook Community Standards or this Conduct in VR Policy across Facebook or Oculus products, we may take action on your account, including temporarily restricting or suspending your account. For repeated or egregious offenses, we may permanently disable your account.
Notice someone who isn’t following the Facebook Community Standards or Conduct in VR Policy?

Key tips for keeping your teen safe in and out of VR

We announced some important updates to how people log into Oculus devices, while still keeping their VR profile. Some changes will start October 2020. Read more here. For example, instead of having a separate Oculus Code of Conduct, we have adopted Facebook’s Community Standards and a new additional VR-focused policy. This will allow us to continue to take the unique considerations of VR into account while offering a more consistent way to report bad behavior, hold people accountable, and help create a more welcoming environment across our platforms.
Conduct in VR
We want Oculus to be a fun, creative and safe experience for everyone.
We expect everyone in the Oculus community to abide by the Community Standards and the Conduct in VR Policy but here are some values to remember:
  • Everyone is a guest, like you. All the avatars around you are real people, so be respectful and kind.
  • Respect others as you would in any public space. Be aware of their personal space and try not to say or do anything to keep people from having a good time.
  • If you behave in a way that doesn"t meet the Community Standards and the Conduct in VR Policy, you could be suspended or removed from the experience and denied access to Oculus services. Inappropriate conduct includes examples like harassing or bullying others, engaging in offensive or abusive conduct, or impersonating Facebook employees or real people, among others.
Please help us keep the Oculus community safe. If you see any content or conduct in Oculus that you think is unsafe or violates the Community Standards and the Conduct in VR Policy please report it. You can report in VR or via our web form and attach video evidence for our teams to review. Read more in our Support Center. Reporting helps keep Oculus safe and fun for everyone!
You also have the following tools to help improve your experience and keep yourself safe:
  • Muting - You can mute yourself or someone you do not wish to hear.
  • Reporting - You can report abusive content or behavior from inside any VR app or game.
  • Blocking - If you don"t wish to see someone, you can block that person. Once you block someone, they won"t be able to:
    • Add you as a friend
    • Invite you to a game or party
    • Search for you
Your Oculus Avatar
Your Oculus Avatar is your visual representation, or how you appear to other users in many social VR experiences.
You can edit your Avatar in VR from your Profile, which is accessible under People in the navigation menu. Open your Profile and click "edit Avatar" to launch the Avatar Editor.
In Avatar Editor you"ll find a range of options for customizing your Oculus Avatar. You can create an avatar to match your general likeness or be totally creative. You can come back and edit your Avatar at any time.
Tips: Your avatar is public, just like your profile picture and username. You can also create and maintain a separate username in VR that is different from your Facebook name. If you don’t want your Oculus friends to find you by your Facebook name, they won’t—just make it visible to ‘Only Me’ in your Oculus settings.
Learn about your privacy tools in My Privacy Center.
Finding Friends in VR
Connect with your Facebook profile friends so you can chat, play games together, and do more on Oculus.
You can connect with your Facebook Friends by logging in with your Facebook account. You can then add your Facebook friends so you can chat, play games together, and more. You can also choose to share your activity and status with your friends on Oculus.
Tip: You have control over who else can see your Facebook name on Oculus in Account Settings on the Oculus mobile or desktop apps.
Protections for youth
Oculus devices and experiences are designed and intended for users age 13 and older. Adults should monitor how their children age 13+ use Oculus devices, including the content they select, and should use parental controls in content where such controls are available. Adults should monitor the time their children 13+ spend using the headset and ensure that they take breaks during use.
We require everyone to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account to use Oculus devices (in some jurisdictions, this age limit may be higher). Creating an account with inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date information is a violation of our terms. This includes accounts registered on the behalf of someone under 13.
If your underage child created an account, you can show them how to delete their account here or here.
If you"d like to report an account belonging to someone under 13, please fill out this form. Note that the account of any underage child that's reported through this form will be deleted if their underage status is verified.
MANAGING YOUR PRIVACY

Learn how to control your info so you can choose what people see.

Controlling Your Info
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When you log in with Facebook, you can choose whether other users can see your Facebook name, activity and friends list in the Oculus app.
  • For Oculus Rift and Oculus Rift S: You can control your privacy info by opening the Oculus app on your PC and going to Settings > Privacy > Privacy Settings.
  • For Oculus Go, Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2: You can control your privacy info by opening the Oculus app on your mobile device and going to Settings > Privacy Settings.
From your privacy settings, you can control the following info:
Facebook Name: Choose whether your Facebook name will be public on Oculus, shared with only your Facebook friends on Oculus, or keep it private.
Activity: Choose whether other users can see your use of individual apps in Oculus.
Friends List: Choose whether other users can see your friends list. Note: Mutual friends will always be visible, and apps can see your friends who own the same app so you can easily compare high scores and interact with each other.
Adding Friends
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You can add your Facebook friends to your VR profile using your Facebook accounts so you can interact with them in virtual reality. Some games and apps may also allow you to add people you play or interact with to your friends list.
Keep in mind all of your Oculus devices share the same friends list.
To learn more about adding friends to your VR profile, click here
Merging Your Account with Facebook
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If you do not already have an Oculus account, you will need a Facebook account to use an Oculus device. Learn more about setting up a Facebook account here.
If you already have an Oculus account and a Quest 1, Rift or Rift S, you can choose to merge your account with your Facebook account to login to Oculus, or you can continue to use your Oculus account. Merging your account enables social features like chat, joining events, sharing livestreams to your Facebook timeline, and many others. Quest 2 requires a Facebook account, even if you already have an Oculus account.
Here's what will happen if you choose to merge your Oculus account with your Facebook account:
You will be able to become friends with your Facebook friends who have chosen to share their Facebook names on Oculus. You will also be able to have friends in VR that are separate from your Facebook friends.
Your Facebook name will become your real name on Oculus, but you can choose whether to share that with others besides Oculus and yourself.
After January 1, 2023, we will end formal support for Oculus accounts. If you choose not to merge your accounts at that time you can continue using your device, but full functionality will require a Facebook account. We will take steps to allow you to keep using content you have purchased, though some games and apps may no longer work.

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