You walk into any house with kids and there is sure to be at least one glued to a screen engrossed in playing a video game on their devices and talking to themselves or online with their friends. And the most popular one that has taken the gaming world by storm is Roblox. Noob Attack, Roblox Zombie, and Strucid are probably some of the names you will hear flying around at home.
But the question that has been raised again and again recently is – is Roblox safe for kids?
With reports surfacing time and again about it being used by predators/ paedophiles to target young kids – the fear amongst parents is real.
What Is Roblox
Roblox is an app where users can play, create games, and chat online. It blends gaming, social media, and virtual commerce, calling itself the “ultimate virtual universe.” On Roblox, users can socialize, build their own spaces, and earn and spend virtual money called Robux.
Players can build the ultimate theme park, compete as a professional race car driver, star in a fashion show, become a superhero, or simply design a dream home and hang out with friends.
Roblox is a social network using metaverse that allows users to make connections with strangers within the global community as well as people they know in real life.
In September 2020, there were 36 million people on Roblox daily and half of them were under the age of 13 years. In 2024, Roblox has 78 million daily active users and 42.3% are under the age of 13
as per a report by Bloomberg Businessweek
Is Roblox Safe For Kids?
Data compiled by Bloomberg Businessweek shows that since 2018, police in the US have arrested at least two dozen people accused of abducting or abusing victims they’d met or groomed using Roblox. Some were already on sex offender registries or had been accused of abusing minors; there were also a sheriff’s deputy, a third-grade teacher and a nurse.
A recently published report by Hindenburg Research says
Media and non-profit exposés from 2020 to July 2024 revealed digital strip clubs, red-light districts, sex parties and child predators lurking on Roblox. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation in 2024 labelled Roblox “a tool for sexual predators, a threat for children’s safety.
Major Vineet Kumar from Cyberpeace Foundation says
Platforms like Roblox is entertaining and educational but can also be exploited by predators. Paedophiles can manipulate these environments to gain the trust of children, posing serious risks to their safety. It’s important for parents and caregivers to monitor their children’s online activities and also educate them about the potential dangers. Ensuring robust privacy settings, maintaining open lines of communication, and staying informed about the latest security measures are crucial steps in protecting our children in the digital age. Online safety is a collective responsibility, and proactive vigilance can make all the difference.
Roblox offers a vast world of user-created games and it comes with its set of pros and cons. While it encourages creativity, there are some risks parents should know about:
- Age-Inappropriate Games: Since anyone can make games on Roblox, not all of them are suitable for kids. Some games may have mature or explicit content. Parents should regularly check the games their children play.
- User-Generated Games: One of the main risks parents should be aware of on Roblox are user-generated games, known as “condo games,” which can feature adult content, including simulated sex acts, graphic images, and inappropriate language.
- Violent Themes: A lot of YouTube Roblox videos online feature violent themes or sexual content such as sexual assaults and school shootings. Many people even use code words to include keywords like “shex” instead of “sex” to get around the YouTube filters.
- User Interactions: Players can chat with each other, which can lead to issues like bullying, scams, and even inappropriate messages from strangers. Although kids might be interacting with other kids, there are also adults on the platform, and exploitation by predators is a potential risk
- Potential Addiction: Roblox games are very engaging and can lead to excessive screen time. This can affect a child’s mental and physical health, by disrupting sleep or reducing physical activity.
- Third-Party Chat Apps: Third-party chat apps will mostly look like they are part of Roblox, but these are in fact a back door to reach children. Through these apps, predators will find a way to reach out to children and influence them into sharing personal information. The chat feature can expose children to strangers. Parental controls can limit chat interactions or disable them altogether.
- Scams: Roblox features in-game purchases using its virtual currency, “Robux.” Unfortunately, some players and external websites try to scam children into giving out personal information, credit card details, or Robux in exchange for fake items, game enhancements, or giveaways.
In the Hindenburg Research Report, they state that
38 Roblox groups – one with 103,000 members – openly soliciting sexual favours and trading child pornography. The chatrooms trading in child pornography had no age restrictions. Roblox reports that 21% of its users are under the age of 9, a number that is likely underestimated given that Roblox has no age verification aside from users seeking 17+ experiences.
Ron Kerbs, CEO and founder of online child safety company Kidas says
If a predator wants to target younger kids and talk with them to build trust and start the grooming process, Roblox is an easy way to do that. Instead of going to the playground where everyone’s a kid, you go to Roblox.
What Age Is Roblox Appropriate For?
Roblox is rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) as T for Teen, with a Content Descriptor of Diverse Content: Discretion Advised. However, many parents also allow younger children to play under supervision, especially since Roblox provides age-based categories such as All Ages and 9+.
Parents are letting children play on Roblox thinking it’s a cute little kids’ game, with no idea what is really happening – from requests to share pictures so they can become friends to grooming them for inappropriate acts and images these are all happening and it is scary.
How to Keep Your Kids Safe On Roblox
If you’re a parent, you might be wondering whether Roblox is a safe space for your child. Well! the app comes with the risk of scams and bullying. It’s important to understand parental controls, not just for Roblox, but for any game, app, or website your child wants to use.
Parental Controls
Use Roblox’s parental controls to limit interactions and monitor activities. The first and most crucial step is to enter your child’s accurate date of birth when setting up their account. This will automatically enable kid-friendly safe chat with enhanced filtering levels.
Set parental controls on Roblox by doing the following:
- Log in to the account.
- Click the gear icon, and then click Settings.
- On the right-hand side of the Settings page, click Privacy.
- From here, you can adjust both Contact Settings and Other Settings.
- If your child is 12 or younger, you can choose Friends or No one. If your child is 13 or older, there are additional options for interaction with other players.
Set A PIN
Set up a 4-digit PIN that restricts changes to the account settings, ensuring your child can’t alter the safety controls you’ve put in place.
Parental Apps
Using a parental control app like Qustodio can also assist you in monitoring your child’s Roblox activities and ensuring they’re safe from child predators.
Educate Your Kids
Additionally, sitting down and playing the game with your child can help you better understand it and prepare you to guide them through it. Also, talk to your kids about the dangers of sharing personal information and the importance of reporting anything that makes them uncomfortable. They must know that they should come to you if they have any concerns and this applies to every situation in their lives.
Set Rules About Money Spend On Games:
Establish guidelines for spending real money on games. Discuss budgets with your children and ensure they understand that online spending involves real money. Set up agreements that work for your family, such as requiring your permission before they make any in-game purchases.
Key Takeaways
The bottom line is that Roblox is a gaming platform for kids when parents take the recommendations and risks seriously. Like all technology, it comes with risks, so it’s best to start conversations about staying safe with your kids as early as possible. Do you agree?
KSP Team
Sharon Mary
Mansi Zaveri
Moushmi Prakasham
