By India McCarty
Kids all over the world love spending time on popular gaming site Roblox, but is it really safe for children?
“Parents are letting children play on Roblox thinking it’s a cute little kids’ game, with no idea what is really happening,” Kirra Pendergast, founder and CEO of Safe on Social Media Pty Ltd, told Bloomberg. “If I could wipe one app off the face of the Earth right now, it would be that one — it would be Roblox.”
The most concerning feature of Roblox is its open chat function. Users can connect and message easily, using screen names that obscure their age. Once a predator connects with a child on Roblox, it’s very easy to move the chat from Roblox to other chat sites like Discord or Snapchat, both of which are harder to monitor.
Roblox has stated they “are always working to make chat incredibly safe,” pointing to their AI content filters and moderators, but the company simply does not have enough eyes on the situation — they have just 3,000 real-life moderators for over 78 million users.
Bark, a company dedicated to providing parents with content monitoring systems, reported that in 2023, Roblox “reported over 13,300 instances of child exploitation” to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and many are working to combat this problem.
Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed in San Mateo County claiming Roblox “provides a hunting ground for child sex predators,” adding, “Roblox’s success and continued growth has hinged on its constant assurances to parents that its app is safe for children. In reality, Roblox is a digital and real-life nightmare for children.”
“Roblox, in effect, serves as an initial access point to children for predators,” the suit continued. “Once on another app, like Discord, predators escalate their exploitation by soliciting explicit material. Roblox’s app and profit-driven virtual currency system enable predators to exploit children, often by trading or extorting Robux in exchange for explicit photos.”
Related: Roblox Isn’t Safe for Your Kids. In Fact, It’s a ‘Pedophile Hellscape’
If you’re worried about your child’s time on Roblox, experts have shared some warning signs to look out for, from secretive behavior surrounding the game or their online messages to receiving online gifts (digital objects, codes, or “Robux”) from friends.
It’s also important to be on the lookout for any emotional changes that might occur after your child spends time online, or your kid refusing to let you see what they are doing on their screen.
“It’s important not to panic if one or two of these signs appear,” Bark explained. “Your child may have a valid explanation or may be behaving differently as a result of any number of reasons. But these signs can serve as valuable conversation starters. Keeping communication open, honest and non-judgmental is one of the best tools parents have.”
Bark also counseled having open conversations with your child about online safety, as well as using parental controls and monitoring your kid’s chat history.
Roblox might seem like a safe place for your kid to spend their time but, like all online spaces, there is an element of danger that parents need to be on the lookout for.
Read Next: Has Roblox Finally Gotten Serious About Child Safety?
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