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?

• Most virtual items cost “Robux” (in-app purchase) players can earn the currency or purchase it (Source: Pocket Gamer)
• 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 85 million daily active users in its online global community (Source: Statista)
• Users can create games on Roblox Studio and upload games to the site for others to play
• Each player uses a customized avatar and Roblox offers a limited number of free customizable options

Is Roblox safe for kids?

• Because Roblox consists of user-generated content, children could encounter adult or inappropriate content 
• The chat feature opens up kids to contact strangers and for cyberbullying
  
  • 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?

• Sit down and play Roblox with your students for at least 15 minutes a week to understand how they play the game and build a connection with your kids by having fun together
• Discuss safety concerns with them about the chat features and who it is appropriate to talk with, and what topics are never appropriate to talk to strangers about
• Set up parental controls (both within Roblox and on the device) and monitor the games that kids are playing

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 “Privacy & content maturity”
• Go through the list and configure to your specifications. We recommend the most conservative settings for younger children
  
  • Content maturity-this adjusts the types of content your child can access
  • Screen time-set time limits on the amount of time kids can play Roblox
  • Communication–adjust who kids can communicate with through the app
  • 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
• Then go to “Spending” and set a limit (This setting may only be available from the parent’s account)

More Information for Parents

• Encourage your student to always talk with you, or a trusted adult, if a situation makes them uncomfortable
• 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

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 corporation offers access for students to a vast variety of games and epic adventures which means most students can find something they are interested in to play
• Roblox has made it very easy to move from one game to another within the online platform
• 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 concerns about child predators 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.

While Roblox is a fun and creative way to play games with friends, parents should have an open conversation with their students about the dangers of online games like Roblox and what they should do if something inappropriate happens.

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