Roblox Guide for Parents

Roblox is a popular online gaming platform for kids, offering a creative and interactive space where they can build, explore, and play games created by other users. With millions of available games and daily active users, Roblox offers a vibrant community and the ability to connect with friends. While the platform can spark creativity and connection, it also raises significant safety concerns for parents—from inappropriate content, online predators, and cyberbullying to in-game purchases and screen time management.

In this blog, SmartSocial.com breaks down what makes Roblox so appealing to young players, the potential risks involved, and most importantly, how parents can guide their children to use the platform safely and responsibly.

Parent training video

How to Set Parental Controls (Parent Video)

What is Roblox?

• Roblox is an online platform and game creation system where users can play a wide variety of games, create games, and chat with others online
• Roblox has more than 111 million daily active users in its online global community and almost 40% of those are under 13(Source: Statista)
• Users can create games on Roblox Studio and upload games to the site for others to play
• Most virtual items cost “Robux” (in-app purchase) players can earn the currency or purchase it (Source: Pocket Gamer)
• Each player uses a customized avatar and Roblox offers a limited number of free customizable options

Is Roblox safe for kids?

• The biggest risk is interaction with strangers. Many games allow open chat and friend requests, which can expose kids to predators, scams, or pressure to share personal information
• In-game content isn’t always kid-friendly. Despite moderation efforts, some Roblox spaces include violence, sexual themes, or language not meant for children. Parents should review the games their child joins
• Cyberbullying is prevalent, especially the type that shames players for not spending money (Robux) on their avatar‍‍
• ‍Players over 13 can opt-in to a voice chat feature to communicate with other players in the game
• Since there isn't a definite end to Roblox, it may be difficult for some players to limit their game time, increasing the risk of developing screen time addiction‍
• “By default, users under the age of 13 will not be able to play, search, and discover unrated experiences…We will be restricting access to Social Hangouts and Free-form User Creation experiences to users ages 13+” (Source:PCGamer.com)

What can parents do?

• Set parental controls (both within Roblox and on the device): Limit who can chat with your child, send friend requests, or join them in games
• Use a parent PIN: Lock account settings so your child can’t change them without your approval
• Set spending limits: Control how much Robux can be purchased or spent in-game
• Play together: Explore games with your child or ask them to show you their favorites so you know what they’re experiencing
• Keep communication open: Discuss safety concerns and remind them never to share personal details and encourage them to tell you if anything feels uncomfortable

Key Roblox safety features parents can use:

• Account Restrictions (for under 13): Automatically limits chat and game access
• Chat filters: Blocks inappropriate words and phrases
• Parent PIN: Prevents kids from changing safety settings
• Spending controls: Lets parents approve or limit Robux purchases
• Activity monitoring: Parents can view recent games played, chat history, and purchase history

How to set up parental controls on Roblox?

• Log in to your child’s account and tap “More” or the gear icon
• Scroll down to “Settings” and tap “Parental Controls”
• Tap “Add Parent” and enter parent email address
• Open up parent email from Roblox and tap Link accounts. Either log in or create an account
• Tap “Agree”

Parental control settings

• From either the parent or child account go to “Settings” and then “Parental Controls”
• Scroll down to "Screen time" and tap on "Manage"
  
  • Set a screen time limit and view which games your child has been playing
• If you are using the parent account, select the child you are managing, scroll down to "Settings you manage"
• Go through the list and configure to your specifications. We recommend the most conservative settings for younger children
  
  • Content restrictions-this adjusts the types of content maturity level your child can access
  • Communication–adjust who kids can communicate with through the app
  • Spending restrictions - limit how much money your child can spend on Robux in the game
  • Visibility & private servers–adjust who can see what games they are playing and join them in the game
  • Trading & inventory-adjust who they are allowed to exchange items and Robux with

More Information for Parents

• Encourage your student to always talk with you, or a trusted adult, if a situation makes them uncomfortable
• Remind them to never move to another platform to continue chatting with someone they know from Roblox
• Create a Family Media Agreement WITH your child to help set limits and boundaries for Roblox and other online games

Where is Roblox Available? 

• Roblox is available on PC, Mac, Xbox One, Amazon Fire, and iOS, Android for mobile devices
• Apple App Store Rating: 12+
• Google Play Rating: T (Teen) 
• Terms of Use
• ‍Privacy Policy

Roblox in the news

“Deeply disturbing” research exposes how easy it is for children to encounter inappropriate content and interact unsupervised with adults on the gaming platform Roblox. - The Guardian

Researchers identified 38 Roblox groups openly trading child sexual abuse material and soliciting sexual acts from minors. (Source: ABC/FOX News, Montana)

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‘An RCMP officer says kids are first contacted there and directed to apps like Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat where predators then ask the child for nude photos or to perform sexual acts.’ (Source: CTV News)

Why do students want a Roblox account?

• Roblox offers a vast variety of games and epic adventures which means most students can find something they are interested in to play
• Some students enjoy the opportunity to create their own games and share them with others in the global community
• Students can interact with and play online games with their friends and many kids love to discuss their favorite Roblox games even when they are not playing

Conclusion

Roblox offers a wide range of games and allows users to create their own. It has a large and active user base around the world, particularly among young players. However, there have been serious concerns about child predators, in appropriate content, and cyberbullying on the platform, highlighting the importance of parental involvement and setting appropriate privacy controls. Parents can actively engage with their children on Roblox, discuss safety concerns, and utilize parental controls to create a safer gaming experience.

Additional Resources

Negative Effects of Video Games

Pros and Cons of Video Games

Tips From a 15-Year Old About Roblox, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, & Screen Time