Roblox Tightens Safety Measures to Protect Young Users

Over the years, Roblox, the widely-used gaming platform among preteens, has faced criticism for inadequate child safety measures, exposing young users to risks like grooming, explicit content, and violent material. In response, Roblox has announced new safety protocols that will restrict users under 13 from accessing certain high-risk experiences.

Starting next year, parents will bar children aged 12 and under from accessing “unrated experiences” by default. Additionally, creators will need to complete a questionnaire in the Creator Hub, marking their experiences as either “All Ages” or “9+” if they wish for them to be accessible to young users. These categories allow some mild content, including unrealistic blood or crude humor, but strictly prohibit gambling. The deadline for creators to submit these classifications is December 3.

Roblox is also restricting social hangouts and free-form 2D creation experiences for users under 13. This feature aims to limit exposure to inappropriate player interactions by allowing unrestricted chatting and drawing, which poses potential safety issues. Restrictions on free-form 2D creation will be effective starting November 18.

The platform assures that children under 13 can still access a range of age-appropriate content, such as role-playing games where they can assume various roles or create within moderated 3D environments. Roblox has also listed approved experiences for young users that involve building, designing, and interactive play.

Roblox is testing an age-verification system for users over 13, requiring government-issued IDs. Users under 13 will need parental permission for certain chat features, and those under 9 will require consent for moderate content experiences. These changes reflect Roblox’s commitment to a safer environment for younger users amid growing safety concerns.