The Blender-to-Unity Pipeline
If there is one reason to let a teenager near VRChat, it’s the technical hurdle. To get a custom avatar into the game, you have to learn the basics of 3D rigging and game engine implementation. This is a legitimate career skill. Many teens spend hundreds of hours in Unity just to make their character's ears twitch or eyes glow. If your kid is doing that, they aren't just consuming content—they're building it.
The 'Public' Problem
However, the social side is a mess. Unlike Roblox or Fortnite, which have at least some automated filters for behavior and appearance, VRChat is built on the philosophy of freedom. That freedom extends to people who want to be offensive for fun.
"Public worlds in VRChat are like the comment section of a viral YouTube video, but with spatial audio and 3D movement."
If you do decide to allow it, the only safe way to play is to disable 'Public' instances entirely. Stick to 'Invite' or 'Friends+' worlds. If they are 'world-hopping' in public lobbies, they are effectively walking into a bar at midnight with a fake ID.
Alternatives
If your kid wants the social VR experience without the grit, look at /guides/rec-room-safety. It has its own issues, but the moderation is lightyears ahead of VRChat. VRChat is for the older, tech-literate crowd who can handle seeing a 3D model of a meme-gone-wrong without losing their minds.