Roblox is an online platform that allows users to create and play each other’s games. The platform is intentionally family-friendly with its bright, blocky graphics, and it’s extremely popular among young gamers. It’s free-to-play but features in-game purchases with its virtual currency Robux. Because users are free to program whatever they want, Roblox offers a wide variety of games, including racing, obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, food preparation, role-playing, shooters, luck-based games, horror experiences, and many opportunities for imaginative play. However, this allows developers to make inappropriate games or push toxic ideologies, despite the platform’s moderators. Unfortunately, this is only one danger children may face on Roblox.
Exposure to Mature Content and Predators
Roblox isn’t just for kids; many adults enjoy the platform. There is an assortment of not-kid-friendly games that explore violence, warfare, horror, and romantic and intimate relationships between avatars. Roblox has filters that prohibit users aged 8 and younger from accessing mature content, and they need parental permission, which is sent by email, to access “moderate” content. However, some kids get around this restriction by making an account under an older age, which does require a government-issued photo ID like a passport.
Moreover, many inappropriate games are not labeled as such despite Roblox moderators, and are open for any age to play. Developers can disguise the true content of their game and get a “Mild” or “Moderate” rating, warns Internet Matters. There are also gambling-themed games, as well as incentives to spend Robux, which can be purchased with real money. Keep in mind, developers make a profit from purchases in their games.
Roblox includes an open chat feature where gamers can freely talk to each other. This has led to many allegations of bullying and grooming on the site. Now, only players over 13 can privately message others, but everyone can access the public chats. Fortunately, Roblox’s parental control can restrict chats to just friends or disable them entirely. These settings are locked behind a 4-digit PIN.
Bear in mind, predators can bypass moderation using slang, coded messages, and mispellings. These interacteratons can start out innocently to build trust, so it’s important to teach children about online stranger danger where anyone can lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Additionally, scammers seek out children by offering free Robux and other perks in order to hack their account and steal the linked credit card data.
Addictive Gameplay
Like most other video games and online platforms, Roblox is designed to keep users playing for as long as possible. When kids finish one game or get bored with it, it’s easy to endlessly switch to another. Additionally, it’s common for friend groups to be on Roblox, which makes individuals feel left out if they are not online too. And there are often in-game rewards that encourage continued play time, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Because it’s designed to be engaging and addictive, many kids may struggle to pause and do something else.
Therefore, the AAP recommends setting limits on how long your child can play Roblox. Inform them of the time, and ask how they want to be reminded when it’s up. They should then practice ending the playing session by themselves. Then plan for an enjoyable activity to look forward to after gaming, such as baking, playing with a pet, etc. But even so, it can be difficult for young kids to transition to another activity, even with prior planning. If a child becomes argumentative about stopping, consider having them take a break for a week to build interest in other hobbies.
Teaching Roblox Safety to Kids
If your child enjoys Roblox, watch them to see what kind of games they like and why, recommends the AAP. Better yet, play with them and use Roblox as a way to bond. If you disapprove of a certain game, block it with parental controls. Teach them how to block people who are rude, aggressive, or make them uncomfortable, and have an open discussion about who might try to “friend” them. If they want to spend Robux, use it as a teaching opportunity about money and responsible spending by showing the Robux equivalent in dollars.
“Parents need to use the parental controls available and talk to their kids about safely engaging in online spaces,” says Shelby Knox, campaign director for ParentsTogether, a family-focused nonprofit organization in the US to Parents. “It’s not enough to have these conversations once; parents need to keep an open line of communication.” Additionally, being familiar with the platform and why kids love it can help guide them to navigate it safely.
“If you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox”
Despite their efforts, many parents struggle to manage their kids using Roblox, according to Mumsnet boss Justine Roberts. “There are parental controls, and our users would urge constant parental supervision,” she said to the BBC. “But we all know that with the best will in the world life sometimes gets in the way. If you’ve got multiple children you’re looking after and things happen, and you probably can’t 24/7 watch everything they’re doing, even if you’ve got all your parental controls set.”
Co-founder and CEO Dave Baszucki was asked for his response to parents who don’t want their children on his platform. “My first message would be, if you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox,” he said. “That sounds a little counter-intuitive, but I would always trust parents to make their own decisions.” But Ellie Gibson from the Scummy Mummies podcast called this response “a bit of a get out” since “It’s much easier said than done, especially when all their friends are playing it.”
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