Updated October 2024
Roblox is a vast online multiplayer gaming platform that has gained immense popularity among children and adults alike. With over 56 million daily users (1), it offers a diverse range of games and immersive experiences that cater to different interests and preferences. In 2020 Roblox reported out that 67% of their total user based was under the age of 16yrs (Roblox. “Roblox Corporation S-1 Filing”. November 2022.) However, like any other online platform, Roblox has its benefits, downsides, and dangers that parents, caregivers, educators, and youth should be aware of before joining the platform.
Benefits of Roblox
One of the most significant benefits of Roblox – its ability to stimulate creativity and imagination with its users. Not only does Roblox provides users with built-in tools that allow youth to create their own games and experiences, but it can also provide a user with various educational opportunities specific to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) which can make learning more fun and engaging for youth.
The games on Roblox remind us of the imaginative play often seen on playgrounds – a child may come up with an idea for a game, and others will join in, tweaking the rules to suit the group’s interests.
We love how Roblox can provide a creative and collaborative social space for users to interact with one another online. Players can join groups, make friends, and participate in games and experiences with other players.
With a vast array of games on Roblox, users can find something that suits their interests and preferences. Whether it’s an action-packed adventure or a relaxing virtual world, there’s something for everyone on Roblox. The entertainment aspect of Roblox is not something that can be overlooked or disregarded by parents, caregivers, and educators.
The Drawback and Dangers of Roblox
One major drawback of using Roblox – the risk of encountering inappropriate content (2)(12). Although Roblox has strict guidelines prohibiting such content, there is still a possibility that users may upload and distribute it. Examples of such content include inappropriate adult-oriented audio and even violent or sexualized material that can be found in what is commonly referred to as “Roblox Condos”(3)
A “Roblox Condo” is a game or place on the Roblox platform that is not sanctioned or approved by Roblox, and usually involves sexually explicit or inappropriate content. These types of games or places are often created by users who are attempting to bypass the Roblox moderation system to share inappropriate or adult-themed content.
In a “Roblox Condo,” players may engage in activities that often violate Roblox’s terms of service, such as engaging in sexual or violent behavior, using inappropriate language, or sharing of personal and private information. These games or places are often hidden or private, requiring an invitation or special access to enter.
Yes, Roblox Condos are concerning, but we think it is important for parents, caregivers, and educators to know that they are not easily accessed, and not something youth can stumble across on Roblox by accident – a user must go out of their way to “purposely” seek them out.
It is important to note that participating in or creating a “Roblox Condo” is a violation of Roblox’s rules and can result in the account and users being permanently banned from the platform. Parents should be aware of the potential dangers associated with this type of content and monitor their children’s activity on the platform to ensure their safety. If a Roblox Condo is discovered, it should be reported to Roblox immediately.
Another feature that parents and caregivers need to know about is called “Roblox Experiences”. The fastest-growing group of users on Roblox is now aged 17-24, prompting the platform to allow creators to produce more mature content for those 17 and older. This content may include increased levels of violence, blood, or sexualized behavior. To access these mature options, users must provide Roblox with a selfie and a photo of their government-issued ID for age verification—an approach not commonly used on other platforms. This strategy aims to increase confidence in users’ age and identity and will introduce a new standard for age verification moving forward. (4)
It is also important to note that Roblox provides tools for parents to help restrict access to inappropriate content and monitor their child’s activity on the platform (5)(6). However, youth are very good at finding bypasses to these parental controls. In fact, did you know that youth can still play Roblox without having to download or install the game on their device (7)
Another way youth can bypass age restrictions on Roblox – having multiple accounts, known as “Alt Accounts.” Roblox allows a maximum of 20 accounts per email address, these accounts can be set to over 13 years of age, granting access to mature content on the Roblox platform and hidden from parents. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent children from creating additional accounts, and no notification system exists to alert parents when a new account is created.
Roblox has also created “Roblox Connect”, a feature introduced by Roblox to enhance communication and social interaction on its platform. It enables users to connect with friends and other players through various methods, such as voice and video chat. According to Roblox, every second it processes more than 50,000 chat messages. This feature aligns with Roblox’s broader goals of creating a more social and interconnected digital world, where users can not only play games but also build relationships and communities. However, a significant concern for younger users is that Roblox Connect allows private conversations between users through their avatars.
The social nature of Roblox also raises concerns about the potential for cyberbullying, hate speech, the use of inappropriate language, and other forms of online toxicity. Due to Roblox’s interactive nature, users may be exposed to negative behaviors such as harassment, insults, and other types of derogatory comments or behaviour from fellow players during gameplay.
Like all the other online platforms and games that are popular with youth, Roblox can also attract sexual predators who seek to exploit children. Sexual predators can first connect with a child on Roblox, groom to build rapport, and then “off-platform” them to a more private encrypted platform to engage in illegal sexual behaviour.
On Roblox, by default, an 7-year-old can post freely in a game chat visible to all other players. It’s up to parents to enable safety features that limit who their child can communicate with and which games they can access. Without these protections, children can interact with strangers, chat for hours, and even exchange private messages. This lack of oversight makes it difficult to determine whether a child is posing as an adult to bypass safety measures or if an adult is pretending to be a child for more sinister purposes. Users should be cautious about sharing personal information, and again parents and caregivers should monitor their children’s interactions on the platform, especially younger children. If a user is engaging in this type of predatory behaviour they should be reported to police and Roblox immediately.
Another concern that is often unknown to many parents and caregivers – Roblox has in-app purchases that allow users to buy virtual items within the game. In fact, although Roblox is a free game to play, users are incentivized to make purchases in the game with real money. Kids can potentially purchase “Robux” for cash, which is then spent on purchasing distinctive outfits and animations for their Roblox avatar, obtaining special abilities in games, as well as acquiring weapons and other items in what is known as a Roblox “Premium Account”. These purchases can add up quickly, and some users may spend more money than they intended. Given the popularity of Roblox with youth, brands and online marketers are now also targeting youth to purchase their products as well, something that we wrote about in an earlier posting (8)
Given that Roblox has a virtual economy that includes a marketplace for buying and selling virtual items. In fact, big brands have crafted their own games, such as Gucci Town and Nikeland where their products can be purchased to which Roblox takes a cut. Also, some users may try to scam others by selling fake or stolen items or by tricking them into giving away their personal information, or to install malware on their devices. Again, parents, caregivers, and educators should be teaching youth to be cautious about clicking on links or downloading files from untrusted sources on the Roblox platform.
How To Minimize The Bad On Roblox”
Prior to allowing your child access to the Roblox platform, ensuring that you have the appropriate privacy and security setting that are age/maturity appropriate for your child is important (9). Here are some important points to remember:
- Ensure that your child’s actual age is set in their account. If they’re under 13 years old, the account will have some filters and restrictions already set up.
- Make sure your child doesn’t use their real name to sign up and has a long and secure password that they know not to share with anyone other than you.
- If your child needs an adult or over 13+ account on the same device, ensure that they only have one account with the correct age.
- If your child hasn’t set their age correctly, you can change it back to under 13+ with your consent.
- Log into the game via the app or website, go to the “…” settings, then select “account info” and provide your parent email address. Make sure your child doesn’t have access to your email account.
- After you receive an email from Roblox to verify your email, follow the link to set a secret 4-digit PIN in the settings/security. This will prevent your child from changing the restrictions.
- Enable 2-Step Verification to prevent hacking. You can do this in the settings/security.
- In the privacy settings, select “Friends or No One” for each option.
- Scroll to Parental Controls and set “All Ages” for a G rating and 9+ for PG; 13+ shows all games.
- Ensure your child’s social media accounts are not listed in the settings/account info. If they are, make them private or remove them.
- Ensure your child doesn’t reveal personal information in the settings/account info.
Creating a private Roblox server for your child can also be a great way to enjoy the benefits of the platform without some of the downsides and dangers mentioned in this posting. A private server allows you to create a “safer” (nothing can be 100% safe) and controlled environment for your child and their friends to play and interact without the risk of interacting with strangers or being exposed to inappropriate content (10). Creating a private Roblox server can be an excellent way to enjoy the benefits of the platform without the risks associated with interacting with strangers. However, it is essential to ensure that the private server is set up correctly and that appropriate safety measures are in place to protect the privacy and safety of all users.
Another great way to engage with your child to keep them safer on Roblox – create scenario based education (11) that reflects what they could face on the platform such as:
- “What would you do if someone asked to be your boyfriend or girlfriend on Roblox?”
- “What would you do if someone offered you free Robux to do something inappropriate online?”
- “What would you do if someone asked you to take you cloths off of your avatar?”
- “What would you do is someone asked you to move over to another messaging application so that you can talk private?”
The ultimate and most important approach to ensuring your child’s safety on Roblox, or any other online platform – engaging in communication and actively participating in your child’s Roblox world together. Studies demonstrate that parents who provide their children with some degree of agency based on their age and maturity levels when it comes to technology use, while also modeling appropriate technology use and regularly communicating, participating, and supervising their children’s online activities, are far less likely to have their children engage in undesirable online behavior, regardless of the platform.
We recognize that Roblox presents certain challenges that parents, caregivers, and educators should be aware of and take steps to address. However, we cannot disregard the advantages that this platform can offer to young people. As with any aspect of the digital world, the key to a safe and positive experience on Roblox, or any other online platform, lies in maintaining a balanced, moderated, and age-appropriate level of access that is supported by parental guidance.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
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- https://www.businessofapps.com/data/roblox-statistics/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60314572?fbclid=IwAR1oxId7il9b0KIRtg3eZ0EfZxpOncI7ncqidzrdNX_8yS2BHv00VBk95JU
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/roblox-game-children-1.6357158
- https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2023/06/introducing-experiences-for-people-17-and-older
- https://corp.roblox.com/safety-civility-resources/
- https://corporate.roblox.com/parents/
- https://vcgamers.com/news/en/roblox-now-gg/?fbclid=IwAR3wEuZ53yAxV1MGN2xEj4fWmArjShFB7u4YV2MNReDAl9lj8PvOIgAwyc8
- https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/how-brands-and-online-marketers-are-targeting-youth-online/
- https://create.roblox.com/docs/production/monetization/private-servers
- https://www.internetmatters.org/parental-controls/gaming-consoles/roblox-parental-controls/
- https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/from-theory-to-practice-engaging-kids-in-digital-literacy-internet-safety-scenario-based-training/
- https://hindenburgresearch.com/roblox/