This article was written by Kayelene Kerr from eSafeKids.
Roblox is a global, user generated, immersive, interactive, multiplayer platform. It encourages users to create content, the extent of which is limited to their imagination and creativity.
As one of the most popular online gaming platforms for children, Roblox has captured the imaginations of millions around the world with its games and virtual worlds. It allows users to create, explore, and socialise in diverse environments.
The block-style character graphics can make it appear very child friendly, but it’s important to remember anyone, of any age, from anywhere in the world can use the platform, create content and potentially engage with your child.
As with any online place Roblox comes with its own set of risks. With great popularity comes the need for vigilant parental supervision and oversight, especially when it comes to ensuring a safe and age-appropriate experience for young players. This is where Roblox’s parental controls come into play. We'll explore how these controls work and how you can utilise them to create a safer gaming environment for your children.
How do you access Roblox?
You can access Roblox via smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops and gaming consoles.
Is Roblox Free? ... Yes and No
Roblox is free to download and free to play. Like all online platforms it’s helpful to remember when you don’t pay for a product you are the product. Roblox will get your money or will get your time. Consider screen time and disable in-app purchases and/or set spend limits. Ensure children understand not to accept free Robux as there’s lots of scammers offering this, only purchase Robux from the platform.
Risks
For parents and guardians, understanding these risks is crucial to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for children. Let’s explore the potential risks associated with Roblox.
Screen time
The engaging nature of Roblox can lead to excessive screen time. Be mindful of healthy screen time limits and ensure time online isn't displacing or replacing sleep, physical activity, time doing offline activities, relationships, school work, chores etc.
Age inappropriate content
Roblox allows users to create their own games and experiences, which means that content can vary widely in quality and appropriateness. Some games may not be moderated effectively. Despite Roblox's content moderation efforts, some user-generated games and experiences may contain inappropriate or mature content. This includes violent themes, explicit language, and suggestive behavior. Eg) Condos can contain adult themes such as drug use, animated violence, simulated sex and masturbation.
Unsafe people
The internet and technology have transformed the way we learn, create, connect and are entertained. Our children have access to the world and the world has access to our children. Whilst there are many benefits for our children being online, there are also risks. The increase of children online has seen a corresponding upward trend in cases of online grooming, child sexual abuse and exploitation, sextortion, youth produced sexual content, image based abuse, exposure to pornography and other harmful and hurtful content.
Those seeking to victimise children take advantage of the relative anonymity online interaction provides. As the internet and technology continues to advance, the opportunities for child sex offenders and other financially motivated criminals to sexually exploit children will continue to increase. Roblox allows users to connect and communicate with any one, from anywhere in the world so parental supervision, education, conversation and participation is vital. I also recommend you use parental controls to limit and restrict this.
Roblox has strict guidelines prohibiting swearing, online dating, sharing private information and pornography. Nevertheless, certain players have found loopholes to bypass these rules. Regrettably, numerous parents have expressed concerns about their children being exposed to inappropriate content, adult content and targeted by older players.
Unkind people and interpersonal conflict
Users that children know and don't know can be mean and unkind to them, insult and tease them, pressure them to make in-app purchases, trick or coerce them to share passwords and other private information.
In-Game Purchases
Roblox uses a virtual currency called Robux, which can be purchased with real money. This can lead to unexpected spending if children make unauthorised purchases or are targeted by scams.
Exposure to Scams
Like many online platforms, Roblox can be a target for scams and phishing attempts. Scammers may try to deceive players into giving away personal information or downloading malicious software. Educate your child about common online scams and phishing tactics. Encourage them to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unverified files. Report any suspicious activity to Roblox.
Hidden Accounts
Children can create multiple accounts to evade monitoring or parental controls. Users can set their account to private, making their friends list and game activity less visible to others. This can create a less transparent environment for parents.
Use of External Communication Apps
Children might use external communication apps or platforms to coordinate with others outside Roblox, which can bypass Roblox’s internal monitoring.
Setting Parental Controls
1. Open 'Settings'
2. Navigate to 'Account Info'
Ensure the user name is appropriate and non-identifying
If your child is under 13 years of age use a DOB that indicates this.
(Roblox filters chats in an attempt to prevent inappropriate content. Users have different safety settings and experiences based on their age. Players under 12 years of age have their posts and chars filtered for inappropriate content and to prevent personal information from being posted. Players 13 years of age and older have the ability to use more words and phrases.
3. Navigate to 'Parental Controls'
Toggle on 'Parent PIN' - When this is enabled the PIN must be provided before changing settings. (Hint: make sure the PIN is not one your child knows or can easily guess)
'Allowed Experiences' - Select what will be suitable for your child. Whilst this is an important step it’s not without issue as children will still be able to see games for all ages, but shouldn’t be able to access them. Also sometimes people create content with age inappropriate titles and can still get a rating that indicates it’s suitable for children.
Set spending limits on Robux purchases and enable parental controls to require approval for transactions. Regularly review purchase history and educate your child about managing in-game currency responsibly. Toggle on 'Monthly Spend Restrictions' - This enables monthly Spend Restrictions. You may also want to turn on 'Spend Notifications'.
4. Final Step - Don't Forget
Click the padlock before exiting to ensure all your settings are locked and can’t be altered without the Parent PIN.
Update 27/11/2024 : Roblox announces major updates to safety systems and parental controls.
Privacy
Toggle on 'Account Restrictions' - When account restriction are enabled the account can only access content that is appropriate for all audiences. Additionally, communication settings will be set to off.
'Communication' - Check that communication settings have toggled to off and Chat Filtering Level is set at Maximum Filtering.
Set the following as they are suitable for your child. 'Who can message me' 'Who can chat with me in app' 'Who can chat with me'
Roblox offers an exciting and creative online world for children, but it is essential to be aware of the potential risks involved. By utilising Roblox’s parental controls, monitoring your child’s activity, and maintaining open communication about online safety, you can help ensure a positive and secure experience on the platform.
Further information
Visit Roblox Support to lean more about safety, chat, privacy, filtering, account restrictions, how to report rule violations and so much more. If your child accesses Roblox via an XBox there are more restrictions. Learn more here.
You may like to read the following eSafeKids Blogs:
Child friendly books and resources
My recommended child friendly book for primary school aged children is The Fabulous Friend Machine. You may also like My Device Rules and The Surfing Penguin.
Additional Parental Controls
Parental control tools can assist to monitor, restrict, limit and filter what children and young people do and see online. There are many tools available and they all offer different functions. Free parental controls can also be found on devices and on websites.
Parental control tools can be used to assist, not replace, ongoing participation, supervision, education and conversation.
You'll find a list of parental controls here.
To learn more about eSafeKids workshops and training visit our services page.
To view our wide range of child friendly resources visit our online shop.
Join the free eSafeKids online Members' Community. It has been created to support and inspire you in your home, school, organisation and/or community setting.
About The Author
Kayelene Kerr is recognised as one of Western Australia’s most experienced specialist providers of Protective Behaviours, Body Safety, Cyber Safety, Digital Wellness and Pornography education workshops. Kayelene is passionate about the prevention of child abuse and sexual exploitation, drawing on over 24 years’ experience of study and law enforcement, investigating sexual crimes, including technology facilitated crimes. Kayelene delivers engaging and sought after prevention education workshops to educate, equip and empower children and young people, and to help support parents, carers, educators and other professionals. Kayelene believes protecting children from harm is a shared responsibility and everyone can play a role in the care, safety and protection of children. Kayelene aims to inspire the trusted adults in children’s lives to tackle sometimes challenging topics.
About eSafeKids
eSafeKids strives to reduce and prevent harm through proactive prevention education, supporting and inspiring parents, carers, educators and other professionals to talk with children, young people and vulnerable adults about protective behaviours, body safety, cyber safety, digital wellness and pornography. eSafeKids is based in Perth, Western Australia.
eSafeKids provides books and resources to teach children about social and emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, gender equality, consent, body safety, protective behaviours, cyber safety, digital wellness, media literacy, puberty and pornography.
eSafeKids books can support educators teaching protective behaviours and child abuse prevention education that aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum, Australian Curriculum, Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Framework: National Quality Standards (NQS).
