Is Roblox Safe For Kids? — Digital Families Counselling

Open Age Range With Parental Permission – Roblox is an online game with an “Open Age Range”. This allows players as young as 13 to play but suggests that children ask parents for permission before signing up. There is no age verification process, but players under 13 are prompted to input a parent’s email address to verify their permission.

Is There An Offline Version Of Roblox? – Roblox is only playable online and does not have single-player options or offline play. To make a game private or single-player in Roblox, the created game must be set as such before launch. Some VIP or white-listed games have a potential for players to engage in inappropriate behaviour behind “closed doors”. However, an alternative to joining a public game might be to make a private server of a game with adult supervision. Parents would then have to moderate the player invites, which should only be trusted offline friends. A parent could then ensure their child only plays the game made by themselves. 

Creative – While Roblox can be a fun and innovative online platform, parents need to understand that it also has mature content and predatory behaviour by older players. 

The game environment can vary from beautiful scenic games to competitive games to hangouts for all types of players. Still, some games may be too mature or violent for younger players. Additionally, some games can be sexually explicit or contain content that simulates sexual activity. Adult supervision and parental controls are essential for a safer experience.

Are There Safe Games?– Games marked as “All Ages” may be safer for younger players. However, adult supervision is still recommended, as inappropriate content may get through the filter. 

Accounts for players under 13 have restrictions on which games to access, which can also be frustrating for younger players as the accessible games are not grouped together. This frustration can lead children to try to bypass restrictions and set up older-aged accounts. 

Unfortunately, the main viewer includes mature games with graphic content that the restrictions do not block. Children can still see all games in the viewer and sometimes must click on a game before finding out if it is for their age group.

Free And Paid Upgrades –Setting up a Roblox account and playing is free, but games can be pay-to-play, and upgrades and in-app purchases are available. 

Robux: Players can earn virtual spending money called Robux or buy Robux for game upgrades and extras. Players are constantly encouraged to purchase Robux to access VIP areas and play games. 

Watch Out For Discord 17+ – The messaging app “Discord” is also increasingly being used to connect with Roblox players outside of the game. Discord is heavily advertised on Roblox or by other players. Discord is rated 17+ on iTunes.