Roblox is an online multiplayer game platform with most of its games being user-generated. Users can play and invite others to play on smartphones, PC, Xbox, and Mac devices. Roblox is undoubtedly the most popular gaming platform in the world with more than 70 million users worldwide logging in and playing everyday.
The question that brought you here is: is Roblox safe for my kid? The answer is: not always.
Usually, the majority of the games are well audited and are safe for kids. However, there have been instances when kids have been inadvertently exposed to harmful content.
Does Roblox have an age restriction to its content?
Yes, Roblox has age recommendations (not restrictions) for all its content. This means it doesn’t restrict the content strictly based on age. Its recommendations are as below.
- All ages: Content is suitable for everyone. These games on Roblox are deemed “safe” for kids, as they only include mild violence or small amounts of unrealistic blood.
- 9+: Content is suitable for everyone aged nine and older. The games include more mild violence or heavy amounts of unrealistic blood.
- 13+: Content is suitable for everyone aged 13 and older. The games include frequent instances of more serious violence and small amounts of realistic blood.
- 17+: Content is suitable for players over the age of 17. In-game content may include strong violence and language, heavy realistic blood, and moderate crude humor.
If it has age recommendations, then what is the problem?
Many users build experiences within Roblox that have profane language, bad imagery, and aggression that can expose children to unwanted experiences such as cyberbullying and others.
- Roblox includes text messaging and chat, meaning children can talk to strangers while playing the games. This can mean that there is risk of being exposed to unwanted materials.
- Gamers when playing with each other on the platform could get into verbal abuse on the chat and other similar abuse.
- Games could contain simulated violence with guns, knives, and merciless fights.
- Robux is the inside currency to buy stuff in Roblox. This becomes the target for phishing and for many fraudsters to steal money from children. Scams are rife in the Roblox world.
What are the precautions you can take as a parent?
Roblox has in-built parental control. One has to go to settings and add the parent email address to control the viewing time, spends, 9+, 13+ content, and activity. Even chats can be monitored to understand the history of the communications.
Parents can take additional precautionary measures with products such as Kinjo, Aura, Bark, and others. Some of the controls like controlling Roblox time could be simply circumvented by the child by using another Roblox account. But, some of these apps are really useful to restrict usage and the kind of usage.
Learn more about Roblox Parental Controls here.
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