Roblox is Certainly Fun, But Is It Safe?

Roblox is a popular online gaming forum with 150 million global users and growing. Game developers and players of all ages use the platform to create and play immersive 3D games on a range of mobile devices and gaming consoles. Estimates say that more than half of all kids under 16 years old in the US have used Roblox. The free platform allows users to create games and virtual environments such as theme parks, shopping malls, or any place they can imagine. Creators share the games they design on Roblox so other users can play and interact with them. With more than 20 million unique creations hosted on the site, the types of virtual environments players can explore are practically unlimited. The app also has a currency called Robux, which kids can spend on accessories in games to trade with other users. Creators also have the opportunity to make money from in-app purchases in the games that they design. There are also many other features that make the platform fun for users, but make some parents question whether it is safe for their child. Kids can play games with their friends or join games with other players who they do not know. They can also socialize within various games. The chat feature allows users to interact and make friends, either in a direct or group chat. Users can also send private messages, follow other users, and add each other as friends. There is also a forum where kids can hold private virtual meetups for birthday parties, social gatherings, and remote learning activities.

Since Roblox is an interactive community with users of all ages, it is advisable for parents to take some basic safety precautions before their young child uses the forum. Optimizing parental controls helps to make the platform safer for kids. Safety features are available for the gaming and chat forums, with detailed instructions for making adjustments on the Roblox support site. Since players have different safety settings based on their age, parents should ensure that their child’s birthdate is entered correctly in their settings. In the upper-right corner of the browser, the age group of an account is displayed as either 13+ or <13. For kids aged 12 and younger, all public and private posts and chat on the site are filtered to prevent the display of inappropriate content and personally identifiable information. An expanded selection of words and phrases is allowed for users who are 13 years and older. Parents should be also aware of their child's interactions with other users. Parents or kids can block other users from interacting with them and report bullying or other rule violations on the forum. In addition, parents can lock messaging and chat functions completely or adjust the settings to prevent strangers from friending their child’s account. Parents have the option to block games that are not age-appropriate for their children by limiting their play to a pre-approved list of games. Parents can also adjust the account settings to prohibit in-app purchases or set limits with their kids. Parents of young children can monitor their child's use of Roblox by viewing the activity history that is saved in their account.