Is Roblox Safe for Kids? Here's What the Experts Have to Say (2023)

The Roblox boom is giving some parents pause, as they wonder if the game's multiplayer format and free and open communication policy are safe for kids. As with any video game with these features, there are some risks, but overall, Roblox can be a safe gaming platform for older children according to experts—especially when parents take some precautions.

Here, we dive into what Roblox is, potential risks you should know about, and how you can keep your child safe from the risks experts want all parents to know about.

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What Is Roblox?

Roblox is a free online gaming platform that allows users to play games designed by other players—as well as design their own. The platform has seen a major boost in popularity, with an average of 55.1 million daily active users as of February 2022, up 28% year over year.

The "imagination platform," as it's advertised, is available on all smartphones, tablets, computers, Xbox One, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive where users can design and upload their own games on a proprietary program called Roblox Studio to play in a global community, explains Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer of parental-control app Bark and author of Parenting in a Tech World.

On their site, Roblox explains this means that players can build the ultimate theme park, compete as a professional race car driver, star in a fashion show, become a superhero, or simply design a dream home and hang out with friends.

"The platform offers thousands of free user-created games," says Jordan. "It's extremely popular among all ages, but its easy-to-use functionality, creative tools, and free games make it especially appealing to young gamers."

Although users can access an infinite number of games without paying a dime, the platform also has its own currency referred to as "Robux," which can be used to purchase additional features, like avatar upgrades, and kids will likely want to subscribe to the Builders Club, which also provides additional features for a membership fee, according to Common Sense Media.

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How Old Should Kids Be to Play Roblox?

There is no official age that kids can play Roblox, but Common Sense Media rates the platform safe for users 13+ "based on continuing challenges with problematic content. But Roblox is also potentially safe for kids younger than that if account restrictions are turned on, and parents pay close attention to their kids' activities on the platform."

In late 2021, Roblox rolled out age verification, which requires a child 13 and older to verify their age using a government issued ID, notes Shelby Knox, campaign director for ParentsTogether, a family-focused nonprofit organization in the U.S.

"However, parents should remember that verifying their child's age gives them access to more features, like voice chat, which can bring additional risks," she explains, pointing out that in September 2022, Roblox introduced new Experience Guidelines that allows each game to receive one of three ratings: "All Ages," "9+," or "13+."

"Parents can choose which level is appropriate for their child by accessing the settings in their child's account," says Knox.

Certain features, such as voice chat, are also age-limited by Roblox themselves. Roblox requires players to prove they are over the age of 13 to access the voice chat feature, says Knox.

"However, players have complained that some younger children have been able to get around the requirement," explains Knox. "In the same vein, Roblox now allows parents of children under 13 to put a spending limit on their child's account and choose to be notified whenever their child makes a purchase. This came after parents around the globe came forward about their children spending thousands of dollars on Robux, the in-game currency, without their parents ever being notified. But again this leaves a large group of minor players who, if they are able to access a credit card, will be able to spend unlimited amounts of money without their parents ever knowing."

Roblox's Risks Parents Need to Know, According to Experts

Because Roblox is an interactive game that also offers features such as chat boxes, there are risks that parents should be aware of.

(Video) Why Roblox Is Not Safe For Children...

Although kids might be interacting with other kids, there are also adults on the platform, and harassment and exploitation by predators is a potential risk, points out Knox.

In the past, parents expressed concern about the safety of Roblox for kids after reports of sexually-suggestive material in the game and explicit instances of characters being assaulted. Such instances may be rare, but experts offer the following warnings to parents, which can apply to any online gaming platform.

Any multiplayer platform can lead to troubling interactions.

One of the safety concerns with Roblox is the risk that kids could interact with predators in the chat function. "Like many other gaming platforms, Roblox has elements of self-policing including moderators and rules, but there are always ways for individuals with the wrong intentions to make their way into the platform and into your child's chat room," points out Jordan.

She points to a 2019 case out of the U.K. in which a mom learned her son was being groomed by a predator on the platform which led to receiving sexually explicit images on a third-party chat app not affiliated with Roblox.

ParentsTogether has also heard from several members about deeply troubling contacts their children have experienced on Roblox including a 7-year-old in Massachusetts who was "contacted by someone wanting her to send pics, because they wanted to be her friend."

"Remember that everything a user experiences on Roblox was created by other users," says Jordan.

User-generated games could expose kids to inappropriate content.

One of the main risks parents should know about Roblox are user-generated games, or "condo games," that feature adult content, such as simulated sex acts, graphic images, and inappropriate language.

"Thanks to the nature of the platform allowing anyone to upload content at will, as well as the lack of in-game moderation during interactive experiences, virtually anything goes during gameplay," points out Jeff Haynes, a senior editor with Common Sense Media. "Most of this is attributed to condo games, but part of the difficulty is that many of these experiences don't even appear like the stereotypical condo games from a few years ago. They look like safer games that can draw in users, only to discover that there's inappropriate content lurking inside."

How Roblox Is Addressing Safety Concerns

In response to safety concerns, Roblox notes that the platform was designed for kids and teens from the beginning, and they're committed to making safety a priority. "We have a responsibility to make sure our players can learn, create, and play safely," notes Tami Bhaumik, Vice President of Civility & Partnerships at Roblox. "This continues to be our most important priority and that will never change."

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She adds that the company has a human review team monitoring for safety in multiple languages and keeping an eye out for chat behavior that clearly indicates an attempt to bring a player off their platform to other and for users under 13, filters are even stricter, such as blocking all use of numbers and potentially personal identifiable information. The platform also does not allow the sending of images or video via chat or one-to-one user interactions.

You can also stay on top of what Roblox is doing to evolve its safety system via regular updates and its Parents Guide.

"Roblox continues to strengthen safety and parental control options on its platform," notes Jordan.

Haynes points to one such safety feature: a game recommendation system based around three different categories:

"All ages, which may have infrequent mild violence and unrealistic blood; 9+, which is content for 9 years old and up, would include frequent mild violence and possibly lots of unrealistic blood; and 13+ for older kids, featuring frequent moderate and heavier forms of violence as well as potentially realistic blood," he explains. "Otherwise, many of the same parental controls from before remain in place. If a parent has specified an age range for their kid, they should only be allowed to get access to those recommended titles."

How to Keep Your Child Safe on Roblox

Whether or not Roblox is safe for your kids depends in part on the steps you take to protect them when they're online. It's always a good idea to have open and honest communication with your kids regarding technology. So, talk to your kids about internet safety and be sure they know who to turn to if they encounter a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable. Additionally, the following moves could protect kids from predators, according to experts.

Familiarize yourself with parental controls.

The experts we spoke with emphasize the importance of understanding the parental controls not just for Roblox but any game, app, or website your child wants to use. At the same time, they recommend sitting down and playing the game with your child to get a better understanding of it and to be better prepared to help them navigate it.

Use parental controls (and skip the chat rooms).

To keep Roblox safe for kids, Bark recommends that parents disable their child's chat functionality, especially if they're not supervising play directly.

For instance, you can enable Account Restrictions to lock your child's account's settings so that no other user can send them messages, chat in-app or in-game, or find their account by phone number. None of these settings can be individually adjusted when Account Restrictions are turned on.

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To get started, Bark recommends setting parental controls on Roblox by doing the following:

  1. Log in to the account.
  2. Click the gear icon, and then click Settings.
  3. On the right-hand side of the Settings page, click Privacy.
  4. From here, you can adjust both Contact Settings and Other Settings.
  5. If your child is 12 or younger, you can choose Friends or No one. If your child is 13 or older, there are additional options for interaction with other players.

"Parents who want additional control should go to the Security section of the AccountSettings page," says Jordan. "Here, they can set a PIN and other account restrictions."

You can also choose exactly who can message and chat with your child, along with who can invite them to join them in private servers, adds Jordan. "Roblox gives parents the ability to log in to their child's account and see nearly everything they've been doing on the app, including: group chats, private messages, friends and followers, virtual item purchases and trade history, creations, and recently played games," she notes.

Remind kids who are allowed to chat to adhere to safe practices.

Chatting with strangers is one of the risks of Roblox for kids. Common Sense Media encourages parents to coach kids to not chat with people they don't know (unless they can verify they're actually a friend, or a friend of a friend, in real life) and to not accept private messages (PMs) from anyone they don't know.

They also advise emphasizing that kids should never give away personal information, trust their instincts if someone makes them uncomfortable, and never move a conversation to a different platform (a telltale predator red flag).

Don't allow kids to play behind closed doors.

"Parents should also institute a blanket rule that all electronic devices be charged in a common area outside your child's bedroom," says Knox.

Prevent kids from making changes to their accounts.

Restricting access to certain settings can make Roblox safer for kids, too. "Parents can also set a PIN code to prevent them from making changes to their account without permission—such as giving themselves broader play access," says Jordan. "This also allows parents to curate their own game lists for their children."

Maintain an open line of communication.

Whether you're supervising your child on Roblox or not, Knox recommends having ongoing, direct and open conversations to ensure your child knows that they can and should talk to you if they see or experience anything online that doesn't seem right to them.

"Like many online communities, Roblox allows kids to connect with their peers over a shared activity," she explains. "It's even more enticing because Roblox continues to feel like a kid-majority space because all in-game experiences are created by other users. But that feeling of shared, safe community can be dangerous because not everyone claiming to be a minor is one and people with bad intentions and access to children can do incredible harm. That's why parents need to use the parental controls available and talk to their kids about safely engaging in online spaces. It's not enough to have these conversations once; parents need to keep an open line of communication."

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The Bottom Line

Roblox is a safe gaming platform for kids when parents take the recommendations from our experts seriously. But like all technology, it comes with risks, so it's best to start conversations about staying safe with your kids as early as possible. Make it a rule that kids play Roblox in a shared family space where you can supervise their activity, use parental controls, and keep checking in regularly with your kids to help ensure their safety.

FAQs

How safe is Roblox for my child? ›

There is no official age that kids can play Roblox, but Common Sense Media rates the platform safe for users 13+ "based on continuing challenges with problematic content.

Should I let my 12 year old have Roblox? ›

Roblox comes with a PEGI age rating of 7+. That means it has been passed as being able to be played by ages 7 years and up. If your 12-year-old child is asking you permission or help in setting up a Roblox account, we recommend you set up parental controls and monitor your child's activity.

Is Roblox warning for parents? ›

Many kids love Roblox for its unique open world and endless array of options to play creatively. Unfortunately, parents and safety experts say the features that make Roblox so fun and accessible for their kids are also what can make them vulnerable to online predators.

Is Roblox safe for 9 year olds yes or no? ›

Make sure your child creates an account using the correct age. On Roblox, certain safety settings and parental controls are enabled by default for children under 13. However, you should still review the settings to ensure they've been set up correctly. Not all games on Roblox will be appropriate for your child.

Should I stop my child from playing Roblox? ›

Although Roblox appears to be a harmless game where kids can use their creativity, there is also a lot of adult content inside the game that is inappropriate for children. Parents need to set up parental controls and monitor their gameplay to keep them safe.

Are there inappropriate games on Roblox? ›

Is there inappropriate stuff on Roblox? Yes, there are lots of games on the platform that contain adult, sexual, or violent content or content that is otherwise inappropriate for children to access.

Is Roblox OK for my 4 year old? ›

Roblox doesn't specify a minimum age. Users of any age can create and join groups, chat, and interact with others.

Is Huggy Wuggy appropriate for 5 year olds? ›

Rather than a knee-jerk reaction, it's a chance to talk to your child about the content and then make an informed decision about it with them. The game itself is a scary experience designed to thrill and unsettle. It has been rated as suitable for 13 year-olds by ESRB and for 12 year-olds by PEGI.

Is Roblox ok for 20 year olds? ›

While the game is designed to keep children as safe as it can, they may still be playing with people who they think are children, but might be adults— there is no maximum age limit on the app.

Can parents delete Roblox? ›

You can delete your child's Robux account by following these steps: Sign in to Roblox with their username and password so that you can access their Roblux purchases. (make sure they don't have any funds on the card) Choose “Delete Your Account” from the drop-down menu at the top right corner of the page.

Do parental controls turn off at 13 Roblox? ›

Players age 13 and older can see and say more words and phrases than younger players, but inappropriate chat and sharing personal information (including phone numbers and addresses) are blocked regardless of age.

Is Roblox ok for a 40 year old? ›

Roblox is for people of all ages and you should play it if you want to. You being an adult doesn't matter, just have fun.

Can you turn off chat in Roblox? ›

Turn off Chat Log into Roblox and click settings. Click Privacy. Under contact settings, change each menu to your desired setting. To turn off chat completely, select 'no-one' from each dropdown box.

Is Roblox safe for 100 year olds? ›

As long as you aren't engaging in malicious activity it's completely fine. Games are made to have fun and any variety of person can play any variety of game. Even teens play it. I have met older people too, but they are rare there.

How do I get my kid off Roblox? ›

Here is a step-by-step list to wean your child off Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft.
  1. Understand why your child likes to play these games.
  2. Build a rapport with them. ...
  3. Have conversations around their gaming habits without the intent to modify them.
  4. Start to implement a plan to wean them off video games.
Feb 2, 2021

Is Roblox good for ADHD? ›

A recent study showed that playing the game seems to enhance neuronal activity in an area of the brain associated with attention function. The new partnership between Akili and Roblox Corp will provide a new route for children with ADHD to access the DTx within "their favourite virtual worlds," said the two companies.

Why do kids like Roblox so much? ›

They can see which games their child is playing, who they are chatting with, and more. Roblox is a great platform for kids because it offers them freedom, flexibility, creativity, and community. It's also easy to learn and play, and there are endless possibilities for gaming and exploration.

What is don't call at 3AM? ›

Don't Call At 3AM is a game on the Roblox platform. It gives you a contact list of infamous horror figures, including Slenderman, Grammy, and Baldi. It then invites you to FaceTime them and take pictures of the results.

How do you block violent games on Roblox? ›

For additional parental controls, go to Settings (gear icon) and Parental controls. Here parents can disable chat or messaging, restrict access to a curated list of age-appropriate games, and set a monthly limit on how much money, if any, the child can spend on Roblox's in-game currency.

What is not appropriate for Roblox? ›

"Dating, Sexting, or other inappropriate behavior is not acceptable on Roblox." Roblox is not a dating site. Sexually explicit chat between users is not tolerated on Roblox.

What is Roblox age limit? ›

Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. May contain frequent moderate violence and/or light realistic blood.

Is Roblox voice chat safe? ›

All chat on Roblox is filtered to prevent inappropriate content and personally identifiable information from being visible on the site. Players have different safety settings and experiences based on their age.

Is Roblox good for the brain? ›

Roblox can help you de-stress, connect with friends, and grow your creativity and problem-solving skills in a safe online environment. However, Roblox can also lead to problems with impulse control and addiction, leading to issues such as depression and anxiety.

How old is kissy missy? ›

Kissy Missy is a toy produced by Playtime Co. She was created in 1985, one year after Huggy Wuggy's release.

Is Kissy Missy nice? ›

Unlike other toys in Poppy Playtime, Kissy Missy appeared to be docile and friendly rather than sinister and vile which is honestly quite odd.

Is Kissy Missy suitable for children? ›

Amongst the information that developers have released, is the addition of new characters, including Mommy Long Legs and Kissy Missy. Like Huggy Wuggy, these new characters have arguably 'innocent' names that may sound child-friendly but could be visually disturbing and upsetting for children.

Is Roblox for 30 year olds? ›

Roblox is dominated by young users. 67% of users are under the age of 16. Only 14% of Roblox's users are over 25 years old.

What does 13 mean on Roblox? ›

Items with the 13+ tag ( ) in the Avatar Shop are only available to players who are 13 years of age or older. These items cannot be put up for re-sale or trade. Roblox has thousands of items available for players of all ages and you can see or search for them all by clicking here. Need more help? Contact support here.

Should I let my 10 year old have Roblox? ›

It's also a good idea to chat with kids about being careful about who they talk to online, and not sharing personal information with anyone they don't know. With a little bit of supervision and guidance, kids can still enjoy playing Roblox while staying safe from predators."

Why are parents deleting Roblox? ›

But some parents have grown wary or frustrated with Roblox - there have been complaints from parents that it is interfering with daily life. Some also worry that the social features leave their children vulnerable to online predators, or simply that they'll see something that is not appropriate at their age.

Can parents control Roblox? ›

Customizable Parental Controls

Parents can limit or disable online chat capabilities, customize access to experiences based on age recommendations, and select options for spending limits.

What to do if your parents ban you from Roblox? ›

You can contact the Roblox Appeals team to review the situation if your account has been banned or moderated. The Appeals team will give the moderation a second look and make any necessary adjustments to your account's moderation status.

Can I let my 7 year old play Roblox? ›

Parents do not need to be concerned. Although there is no age limit for playing this game, Roblox does provide a “safe” menu for children under the age of 13. Roblox is currently one of the most popular gaming platforms.

Why can't I access over 18 sites on my phone? ›

Received a "Timed out" or "No response" error? For some secure sites (HTTPS) that are 18+, you might get a 'Timed out' or 'No response' message instead of our age verification page. If this happens to you, you'll need to prove your age to get access. Click continue, or call 61018.

Is Roblox private chat private? ›

Roblox allows you to send private messages to your friends outside a game. These messages also remain private to only both parties (you and your friend) in the conversation. The "chat" button is found next to your friend's username and profile information.

Can a 90 year old play Roblox? ›

Roblox doesn't specify a minimum age. Users of any age can create and join groups, chat, and interact with others.

Is Among Us safe for 7 year olds? ›

Among Us is an engaging and social game, and it can be a fun way for kids to connect with friends. The Apple Store suggests Among Us is appropriate for kids aged nine and up, due to infrequent cartoonish violence and horror themes.

Is Rainbow friends for kids? ›

As discussed before, the Rainbow Friends game is fun for all ages. It is interactive and engaging, which makes it suitable for both children and adults alike. One can play with their family or friends or play alone.

How to get rid of 13 filtering on Roblox? ›

In Type of help category, select Chat & Age Settings and then Change Child Age. In the type box below, explain that you're above the age of 13 and why Roblox should remove <13 chat filtering for you.

Why did Roblox censor UWU? ›

It get's tagged because it gets picked up in Roblox's word filter as “inappropriate.” It's the same for the words “secret” and “um.” What is the UWU mask called in Roblox?

Is Roblox OK for a 3 year old? ›

There is no official age that kids can play Roblox, but Common Sense Media rates the platform safe for users 13+ "based on continuing challenges with problematic content.

Is Brookhaven Roblox OK for kids? ›

While kids far younger than 13 will want to play, given the Roblox platform's continuing challenges with problematic content, it's strongly recommended against unsupervised play for kids under that age.

Is Brookhaven okay for kids? ›

An easy and fun game for everyone of all ages!

In my opinion, Brookhaven has a lot to do. You can drive cars, get a house, go to school etc. Like your average ROBLOX game, there will be a risk of innapropriate content without the parental controls on. 2 people found this helpful.

Is Roblox safe from hackers? ›

Roblox has a secure system, so people can't actually hack Robux into your account. If a website that claims to give you free Robux or special cheat codes asks for your password, close the page! You may see comments from people that claim the site works.

Can parents block Roblox? ›

For additional parental controls, go to Settings (gear icon) and Parental controls. Here parents can disable chat or messaging, restrict access to a curated list of age-appropriate games, and set a monthly limit on how much money, if any, the child can spend on Roblox's in-game currency.

Can parents block games on Roblox? ›

There are a number of Roblox parental controls. Measures like the age limit and Account Restrictions are easy to set up. Sometimes you may also need to manually report and block players or content. In addition to using parental controls, it's also important to talk to child about Internet safety and privacy protection.

Is Roblox OK for a 5 year old? ›

After all this, are you still wondering “Is Roblox safe for kids?” If you take advantage of all of the parental control features and stay involved in what your child's playing and who they're playing with, Roblox can be fairly safe for older kids (12+).

What does Roblox actually teach you? ›

Roblox Studio offers educators and families a free, student-friendly tool to learn coding, computer science principles, animation, 3D design, and development.

Does Roblox keep chat history? ›

Roblox has several ways to monitor account activity. While logged in, you can view the following histories from their related sections: Direct and small group chat (Chat feature found in the lower right corner of the apps). There you can see individual chat histories.

Does Roblox steal your credit card info? ›

All transactions on Roblox use secure commercial-grade encryption. Financial information is not accessible via user accounts and only partial billing information is stored by Roblox for verification purposes.

How do I know if my Roblox account has been hacked? ›

What are the common signs that I've been hacked?
  • You log-in to notice that some or all of your rare pets have gone missing.
  • You have Robux purchase or Gamepass items that you don't remember purchasing.
  • Your account login details have been changed without your permission.
Oct 31, 2022

Is Roblox getting deleted? ›

Many of you would be thinking if this is really happening. Well, find solace in the fact that this is just a rumor. Roblox isn't getting deleted in 2022 from any of the platforms it runs on, including PC, iPhone, Android, or Xbox. More on that here.

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