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Millions of children hop onto Roblox on a daily basis, and I totally understand why. You can go from slapping someone off a cliff in Slap Battles to something quiet and chill like Adopt Me in a matter of seconds. However, given its nature of being online, I frequently wonder if Roblox is safe for kids. Whenever thereโs a new update, changes in policy, or a new game my own children invest a lot of time into, I like to ensure everything is on the up-and-up. For the past five years of playing Roblox with my kids, I can happily say I was rarely disappointed.
Roblox is Safe For Kids, So Stop Worrying
As a parent, I understand the immediate urge to dismiss Roblox solely on the fact that itโs an online platform. Personally, I think youโre missing the forest for the trees. When the proper protections are set upโand there are many optionsโRoblox is an infinite toy box offering hours of entertainment while doubling as a helpful learning tool.
For example, my eight-year-old loves creating games using Roblox Studios (which is free, by the way). It is its own treasure trove of assets that he can pull from to craft levels, special effects, even pre-scripted NPCs. And because itโs easily accessible, heโs expressed an interest in coding just so he can write his own scripts.
As for my thirteen-year-old, itโs been a continuous source of inspiration for his art. Several of his friends have asked him to draw their avatars after sharing art of his own. For a budding artist, hearing that kind of feedback can be a big confidence boost, not to mention validating someoneโs talent.
Roblox being a social platform, itโs given me the opportunity to teach them โnetiquette.โ In other words, how to behave with other people online. And, of course, teaching them online safety at the same time, like never sharing personal details with strangers.
The Ugly Side of Roblox
Like any online platform, Roblox has its issues. Iโd argue it isnโt any worse than social media or even YouTube, but itโs important that youโre aware of its pitfalls.
For starters, the games are almost always user-generated, meaning other players develop them. Every now and then, an inappropriate game slips through the cracks, but in my experience, this is rarely a problem. In fact, it gets banned pretty darn fast, and to even find it, you have to go outside of Roblox onto, say, Discord.
Secondly, you can chat with other players both in-game and on the platform itself. I wonโt sugarcoat it: some of the players can be downright mean. Reporting a user is easily accessible, as is the option to disable chat altogether. Use it to your benefit!
Lastly, the microtransactions can be a real sore spot on Roblox. The majority of games are free-to-play, though some are premium experiences, and I donโt really see anything wrong with that. What you will find are sneaky and manipulative ways the developers pressure players to buy digital items or the most egregious of all: creating a problem and selling the solution.
Despite all of that, most of those headaches can be avoided entirely; in fact, Roblox gives you the tools to minimize the potential risks that come with your kids interacting with the online world. For example, you can:
- Disable chat (or add limitations like only allowing friends to message you)
- Put a limit on spending
- Limiting content based on rating
- Adding a parent pin (to prevent your kid from changing their account settings)
Iโve used several parental control features to great effect myself and, from what I can tell, it hasnโt hindered my children and their enjoyment. Roblox actually has an FAQ that I highly encourage you to read.
I know the ugly side of the platform sounds scary, but you know what else helps? Playing Roblox with your kids can make it one of the safest environments. Iโm serious! Not just to keep an eye on them but because itโs a great way to spend time with them. Nothing beats giggling with your kids over a silly game on a lazy Sunday.
