Roblox has introduced a set of new policies aimed at empowering parents with greater control over their children’s use of its extensive online gaming platform. Reports indicate that the company has implemented a new type of parental account, allowing guardians to monitor their kids’ online activities and interactions. Additionally, Roblox now mandates parental consent for users under the age of 13 to access certain features. Furthermore, users aged 9 and under will require permission to access game modes featuring moderate violence or crude humor. These changes are scheduled to take effect next month.
Safety concerns for young players have been a persistent issue for Roblox. The platform was previously involved in a lawsuit in 2022 over allegations of exploitation of a minor. Moreover, Sony hesitated to host the game on its hardware due to concerns over potential exposure of children to inappropriate content, which similarly led to a ban in Turkey earlier this year. Hindenburg Research has also published an exposé criticizing Roblox for enabling predatory behavior and questionable financial practices, although the credibility of that source is debated. An investigation conducted by Bloomberg Businessweek revealed that, since 2018, U.S. law enforcement has arrested at least two dozen individuals for abusing or abducting child victims they encountered on Roblox.
