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What is Roblox? -

Promoted as an "imagination platform," Roblox is a free game-creation tool accessible on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, and Meta Quest (formerly Oculus).

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Powerhouse -

The US-based gaming company is responsible for one of the world’s largest platforms, boasting more monthly users than Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation combined.

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Big hit -

In 2024, it averaged over 80 million daily players, with roughly 40% under the age of 13.

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Multi-game empire -

With approximately 40 million user-generated games and experiences, the platform's vast empire expands daily.

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What's so special? -

What sets Roblox apart is the ability for users to design and upload their own games using a proprietary program called Roblox Studio, allowing them to share and play with other gamers worldwide.

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Types of games -

Popular Roblox game themes include action, adventure, RPGs (role-playing games that simulate life experiences), obstacle courses, and shopping (games focused on purchasing digital items).

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Interactive platform -

Additionally, Roblox encourages users to interact with one another. The platform features a "Party" tab, where players can chat with one another while they navigate digital battlefields, obstacle courses, neighborhoods, and more.

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Parental concerns -

As with other video games, social media, and digital devices, the potential for addiction from excessive use of the platform has raised concerns among parents. Experts also highlight additional risks associated with allowing children to use it.

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Types of games -

Among its millions of games, Roblox offers plenty of kid-friendly content. However, some games may not be suitable for young children, including those featuring shooting or warfare, horror and "jump scares," or romantic—and even explicit—relationships between avatars.

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Roadblocks -

To prevent children from accessing adult-themed games, Roblox has introduced age restrictions. Users aged eight and younger can only play games that Roblox has labeled as containing "mild" or "minimal" mature content.

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Parental controls -

Parental controls on the platform include email verification for parent approval to access "moderate" content, such as moderate violence, light realistic blood, crude humor, and gambling.

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Hidden danger -

While the platform aims to promote interaction among child gamers, experts warn that children may be exposed to harassment—not only from other kids but also from adults and predators who could use the platform to exploit them, warns Shelby Knox, campaign director for ParentsTogether, a US-based family-focused nonprofit.

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Real threat -

In 2021, the US-based nonprofit Child Rescue Coalition (CRC) partnered with the UK Border Force to create awareness materials about the platform, following a confirmed case of a child being targeted by an online predator while playing Roblox.

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Warning signs -

In one of the awareness videos, the child's parents recall thinking they were being strict by limiting video game time to just an hour after homework. But they soon noticed their child was exceeding that time, and the laptop began moving out of their view.

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Behavior changes -

The parents reported catching their son lying several times, saying, "He was avoiding our eyes, and his personality changed," according to the CRC awareness material.

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Shocking -

In what they described as "every parent's nightmare," the child's parents confirmed their son had been in contact with an online predator while playing Roblox. "It moved onto the dark web—just horrific stuff, things I’ve never seen in my life. Our son had just turned 10," they told the CRC.

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More restrictions -

In an effort to enhance safety for younger users, Roblox implemented new measures in November 2024. Children under 13 were banned from sending direct messages and restricted from playing in "hangout experiences," which feature player chat.

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Gaming the game -

However, children can reportedly bypass this barrier—and others related to game access—by registering with an older age, even though users aged 13 and older are required to verify their age with identification.

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Under investigation -

To test these safety features, BBC reporters set out to investigate them as part of a recent article. They created two fake accounts—one aged 15 and one aged 27—on unlinked devices and exchanged messages between the two.

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Security breach -

While testing the chat feature to assess the platform's anti-grooming filters, the reporters identified flaws.

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Not that strict -

Although the filters blocked attempts to move the conversation to a different platform, they found simple ways to reword requests to chat elsewhere and suggest playing more adult games.

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Adult games -

The BBC also tested game recommendations and found several titles suggested to a supposed 11-year-old, including "Late Night Boys and Girls Club RP" and "Shoot Down Planes… Because Why Not?"

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What does Roblox say? -

When questioned by the BBC about these safety gaps, Roblox cofounder and CEO David Baszucki emphasized the company’s commitment to user safety, noting that "tens of millions" of people have "amazing experiences" on the platform.

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What does Roblox say? -

He acknowledges the delicate balance between fostering friendships among young users and preventing potential harm, but insists he is confident Roblox can safely offer both to its users.

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Security measures -

Baszucki claims that at Roblox, "We watch for bullying, we watch for harassment, we filter all of those things, and behind the scenes, the analysis continues—reaching out to law enforcement if necessary."

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Timeout -

Roblox enforces "civility" with timeouts and bans, Baszucki explains. The platform also analyzes all communications, using advanced AI to flag content for further investigation.

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What parents say? -

Although the platform offers parental controls, parents admit to struggling to manage their children's use of Roblox.

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Staying vigilant -

Even with parental controls, "you can’t watch everything they’re doing 24/7," especially when caring for multiple children, noted Justine Roberts, co-founder of the UK-based parenting website Mumsnet.

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Simple as that? -

Amid parent and media reports of safety gaps, Baszucki said, "If you're not comfortable, don't let your kids be on Roblox. It sounds a little counterintuitive, but I trust parents to make their own decisions," he told BBC News.

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How to keep your child safe on Roblox -

As previously mentioned, Roblox safety hinges on parental precautions. Click through the following slides for expert-approved strategies to protect children online.

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Set time limits -

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under age five spend no more than one hour per day on screens and advises that older children stop using screens at least one hour before bedtime.

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Consult the "Family Guide" -

To stay informed on Roblox's safety features, visit its Families and Caregivers page, which is regularly updated with news and advice for parents of young gamers.

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Set up parental controls -

Start by overseeing the registration process to ensure your child uses their correct birth year. Roblox now requires parents create accounts when registering for parental controls, allowing them to monitor everything their child does on the app—from group chats to purchases.

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Disable chat features -

To keep Roblox safe for kids, the parental control app Bark recommends disabling chat functionality, especially if you're not directly supervising their play.

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Maintain an open line of communication -

Whether you're directly supervising your child on Roblox or not, specialists advise keeping ongoing, open conversations. This ensures your child knows they can talk to you if they encounter anything online that doesn't feel right.

Sources: (BBC) (Parents.com) (Child Rescue Coalition)

See also: Europol warns of growing online cults dedicated to child abuse

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