Meta Platforms, Facebook’s parent company, has formally launched a new login system that allows users to set up separate accounts that are different from their social media accounts. According to the Tech company, the Meta accounts and Meta Horizon Profiles will now be used by account holders to enter Meta’s metaverse– Horizon Worlds.
This will be gradually rolled out to users in different countries across the globe. Both “accounts” can be used instead of Facebook and Instagram logins – which contain personal information, once used to log in to Meta’s virtual reality (VR) system.
Use Your Meta Accounts and Meta Horizon Profile To Get Started
Meta announced on Tuesday that users can now register to access its VR system using its new Metaverse ID system, eliminating the need to link their Facebook or Instagram accounts. Before this, users were required to link their social media accounts to enter the Horizon Worlds Metaverse. There were concerns about privacy because most users used their social media accounts to log in to the platform.
The new update solves the privacy challenge for the tech giant as it allows users to access the VR system, even if they do not have accounts on any of Meta’s social media platforms.
“Our new Meta account structure gives you more flexibility and control, letting you choose how you do and don’t show up—and whether Facebook or Instagram is part of your experience in VR and other surfaces where you use your Meta Horizon profile,” Meta’s statement said.
Users now have the option of signing up using their Facebook or Instagram profiles to create a Meta account, or they can use their email addresses. Those who sign up using an email address will be required to provide extra information, such as their full names and date of birth. Meta’s metaverse IDs are open to persons 13 years old or older.
Those who create a Meta account using their social media accounts will be connected through the Accounts Centre, a centralized hub for connected experiences across all Meta platforms.
Even though users are encouraged to connect using a Meta account, those with Oculus logins will be allowed to continue using them until January 1, 2023. As consumers migrate to the new ID system, the company says it will “still have access to all of your previous VR purchases and downloads.”
Noteworthy, the latest software version of the Oculus app and VR headset is needed to create a Meta account. In addition to the Meta account, the company is introducing a “Meta Horizon Profile” to replace the ones used on the Oculus account. This profile will be considered the social media of the metaverse. It will feature the user’s preferred avatar, names, aliases, and any other information they wish to disclose to other users on the platform. Meta once used the term “Friends” in the Metaverse but will now refer to them as “Followers,” giving the virtual world an Instagram feel.
Meta Horizon Profiles also pave the way for integrating digital assets such as Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) displayed and used within the metaverse.
Privacy Options To Choose From
User privacy and the use of personal data is still pressing cybersecurity issue. As such, Meta accounts will provide users with three privacy options with different effects one can link with and view one’s profile: “Open to everyone,” “Friends and family,” and “Solo.” If a user opts to skip the privacy setup stage, the account will be automatically set to the default “Friends and family” option. Meta accounts will also allow users to set their profile to “Private,” which requires them to accept follow requests.
Users aged between 13 and 17 years (minors) will have their account automatically set to “Private.”
