Risks To Children Playing Roblox 'Deeply Disturbing,' Say Researchers

A recent investigation has found that children as young as five can easily access inappropriate content and interact with adults unsupervised on Roblox. Roblox is a virtual universe with millions of games and interactive environments, known as experiences, some of which are developed by the platform and others that are user-generated. The platform had over 85 million daily active users in 2024, with an estimated 40% of them being under the age of 13. Despite its child-friendly image, the investigation revealed a disconnect between the platform's appearance and the reality of what children experience on it. The company has stated that it sympathizes with parents whose children have come to harm on the platform, but also claims that many users have a positive and safe experience. However, digital-behavior experts Revealing Reality have discovered that the safety controls on the platform are limited in their effectiveness. The investigation found that children are still at significant risk on the platform, despite new tools being launched to give parents more control over their children's accounts. The researchers concluded that there is a troubling disconnect between Roblox's child-friendly appearance and the reality of what children experience on the platform. The investigation's findings suggest that Roblox's safety updates are not enough to protect children from accessing inappropriate content and interacting with adults unsupervised. Overall, the investigation highlights the need for greater safety measures to be implemented on the platform to protect its young users.