Roblox

There are so many online gaming platforms nowadays, it can be difficult to keep track of them all! One of the oldest platforms is Roblox, which is celebrating its 15th birthday this week. Roblox experienced a 122% increase in platform engagement over 2019 and 2020 due to the pandemic. With over 42 million daily users, there is a good chance your child or young person has heard of it. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Roblox!

On September 21st, 2021 Roblox announced they will be rolling out optional age verification to all accounts. Users will need to upload a photo of government ID or a passport before they are prompted to capture a live selfie on the spot. Roblox have said they will be capturing “liveness and likeness” with their technology to ensure the ID matches the person signing up. Roblox have confirmed they will not store any ID document or selfie scan in their system. Our online safety experts attempted to test this system, but it was not yet available to access. We will continue to monitor this and update the blog as this is released.

What is Roblox?

Roblox is an online game “creator system” comprised of amateur game designers and players. It is a catalogue of free games, designed and published by platform creators. As virtually “[a]ny experience imaginable can be created on Roblox”, the types of games on the platform are endless. Some of the most popular genres include Adventure, Fighting & Battle, and Real-World Roleplay. Roblox is available to download on iOS, Android, PC, and Xbox across all desktop, mobile, and console devices.

©Roblox

You may be wondering how your child or young person knows about Roblox. Even if they have never played it or are restricted from playing games on their devices, there is another avenue that is becoming almost as popular as the platform itself – YouTubers. There are dozens of influencers (known as YouTubers) who record themselves playing games specifically on Roblox. They rate and review games, let viewers know tips and tricks, and promote popular players and creators. Remember – even if your child does not use Roblox or other gaming platforms, they could still be accessing platform content through another person’s videos. It may be worth talking to the young people in your care about which YouTubers they pay attention to.

How does it work?

Similar to KoGaMa, Roblox uses simple design tools to allow users to create their own virtual 3D game – or “experience” as they are defined by Roblox – in any theme or style they like. Both single-player and multiplayer games are available for every user on the platform to design and play. Simply creating an account does not give you immediate access to games – users must download separate components, Roblox Player and Roblox Studio, to participate in playing and creating.

Users have the option to follow other users and highlight their favourite experiences without actually playing the game. This can be used to bookmark games for future playing. Like and dislike buttons are used to help improve game popularity and can only be used once the game experience has been visited. As with most online platforms of this nature, there are group and chat functions that all players can use.

©Roblox

Is it really free?

Roblox claims it’s committed to fostering creativity by bringing “the world together through play.” This philosophy is a large part of why so much of the platform is free to use. However, for creators and players wanting to enhance their experiences with premium aesthetic items, there is the option to purchase in-game currency called Robux. This can be bought on either ‘pay as you go’ or monthly subscription plans. Packs are available from £4.59 – £92.99.

There are free ways to earn Robux, such as selling items in the platform and developing a monetized game, but these are considered the more difficult route to take. Creators can also convert Robux to money through a developer exchange program called “Developer Exchange” (or DevEx).

©Google

What are the main risks?

As this platform has seen an explosion in popularity over the last year, our online safety experts have some concerns over its security and appropriateness for children and young people.

Voice Chat

On September 2nd, 2021, Roblox announced it would be developing a form of voice chat on their platform. This feature, called “Spatial Voice” will allow users to speak to other players who are nearby. The exact perimeters and settings have not been decided. There are various risks that would be associated with a feature of this nature being available to children on the platform, such as bullying and exploitation, and there is no information available on how audio will be moderated (outside of standard reporting and blocking procedures currently on the platform). Once this feature has been enabled, it can be switched off in settings.

Roblox have pre-empted these risks by stating they will slowly start testing with 5,000 developers over the age of 13 before deciding on whether to allow access for younger users. They will also roll out a similar feature for users to enjoy with their platform friends, wherever they are in the world. Users who have Spatial Voice will see a microphone icon next to their username. Only eligible users with voice chat enabled will be able to see this.

This feature is in early stages of beta testing with select individual developers. Our testers will monitor its progress as it is rolled out for public use.

Age Verification

Roblox is rated suitable for 7 years and over by PEGI due to frequent scenes of mild violence and potentially frightening material. Common Sense Media rates the platform as appropriate for age 13+, citing “potential for iffy content” as a reason. Roblox itself says it is aimed at users under the age of 18 (though it can be used by anyone).

Children under 13 are recommended to register with their parent’s email to give parents access to the account and its privacy settings. These accounts are also automatically set to “Privacy Mode” to prevent access to social media plug-ins, some third-party advertising, and certain notification alerts. However, these settings are easily bypassed if a child simply enters a different date of birth upon registering, or if the child decides to change the privacy settings themselves.

Roblox have announced as of September 2021 that they will be gradually introducing dual age verification measures. Our online safety experts will continue to monitor this feature as it gradually rolls out to the public.

Access to Wide Content Base

Once an account is fully active, there is nothing to prevent any user (regardless of the age they registered with) from searching for and playing games that include inappropriate content. Children might even innocently stumble across this content if it is disguised as an engaging game. Roblox has had controversy in the past with simulated nudity and sex acts as well as extremist content being found in some of their games. Roblox believes this is due to the rapid growth of the platform, which has overwhelmed moderators. They have since invested in preventative measures, but they are not fool proof. Users can report a game or a creator if they feel the material within a game is inappropriate.

Online Chat and Private Messaging

As previously stated in this article, anyone can sign up for a Roblox account and partake in using the platform. This includes chat functions and private messaging, both in-game and outside of the game. Roblox encourages inter-user communication to try and create an online community. While done with the best intentions, there is the potential for users with a sexually deviant interest in children to take advantage of this for grooming purposes. There is also room for friends, either online or offline, to bully a child over their game design or complexity. There may even be pressure to play a certain game that others are playing too, even if it is inappropriate or makes your child uncomfortable.

Some game developers can disable in-game chat functions. Roblox has a series of “Community Rules” which it asks all users to follow, but it does not ensure appropriate behaviour across the board. A mixture of human and AI moderators are used to filter all chat for profanity, phishing, and adult/suggestive content. Reporting and blocking are also available for every user on Roblox.

In-Game Purchases and Screen-Time

While Roblox is free to use, there is massive encouragement for players to spend real money to enhance their experience. Roblox experienced a 68% increase in revenue over the pandemic. With easy-to-find pages dedicated to Robux bundles and options to purchase items to aid player progress, a child or young person may feel it is necessary to buy Robux to help build their following on the platform.

There is also the concern of screen-time usage. If a young person is unable to afford Robux bundles but wants to improve their standing in the game, they can sell items they have created by monetising their games. This sounds simple, but it requires a lot of work that is not guaranteed to pay off. A young person may spend too much of their screen-time on the platform trying to create and sell their items in exchange for Robux (or real money, in some cases).

©Roblox

How can I help?

While Roblox appears to be working hard to try and make their platform a safe, creative space for younger users, all platforms that facilitate user interaction can present risks to children and young people. It’s important for parents and carers to be actively involved in how the young people in their care use online platforms, especially larger platforms that increase the likelihood of stranger interaction. Here are some helpful tips:

Approach any conversation from a place of understanding instead of criticism. As Roblox encourages creativity in young minds, they will be especially vulnerable to dismissive or controlling comments. Try using open questions, like asking why Roblox is important to them.
Walk and talk them through their privacy settings with our easy to use safety card. Take this opportunity to discuss the importance of using the right settings for their age group to help keep them safer on the platform.
Make sure to explain the harms around interacting with strangers online, and why it is important to not share any personal information or photos with someone they don’t know, even if they seem friendly. Try coming up with a fun username with them that does not include their real name or date of birth.
Check they understand how to report something online that upsets or worries them, whether this is bullying or sexually abusive behaviour. Remind them that if they are unsure about what to do, they can speak to you or a Trusted Adult for advice without judgement.
Set healthy boundaries around online purchases. If they would like to purchase something, suggest spending chore money that they can build up through participating in household chores.
If a child in your care makes a mistake and spends money they should not have spent, it is important to approach the situation in a non-confrontational way. Getting angry will only make them more nervous and may damage their trust in you.
Encourage healthy screen-time habits to promote your child’s health and wellbeing, and to help them know on their own when they should take a break.
Talk to them about the kind of games they enjoy playing and making. If they are interested in developing games, research extra classes or courses that will help nurture their interest and skill set.

We know that gaming is a big part of downtime for many children and young people. It’s important to keep yourself up to date with all the latest trends, to ensure the children in your care are staying as safe as possible online. Check out some of our best gaming resources here: