Roblox Boosts Child Safety Amid Criticism: New Parental Controls and Stricter Age Limits
October 24, 2024Despite these efforts, critics argue that the changes may be insufficient, especially in light of a recent report by Hindenburg Research that accused Roblox of inflating user metrics and exposing children to harmful content.
While the new safety measures are a positive development, they do not completely prevent children from circumventing age restrictions or accessing inappropriate content.
To further protect younger users, children under nine will be restricted from accessing specific games, and those under 13 will need parental permission to use certain chat features.
Additionally, children under nine will require parental consent to play games rated for moderate content, which may include mild violence or crude humor.
However, the platform still lacks restrictions on account creation, allowing anyone to create an account without verification, including individuals posing as adults.
Concerns about child safety on Roblox have been ongoing, with previous reports and lawsuits highlighting the risks associated with the platform.
A Bloomberg report earlier this year revealed that predators have exploited Roblox, raising alarms about its safety for minors.
Roblox is taking significant steps to enhance child safety on its platform, implementing new parental controls and addressing concerns about predators targeting children.
Next month, Roblox will introduce a new parent account feature that allows parents to manage controls and monitor their child's online activity directly from their devices.
With approximately 80 million active daily users, 40% of whom are under the age of 13, the importance of these safety measures cannot be overstated.
In 2022 alone, Roblox reported over 13,316 instances of child exploitation, leading to multiple arrests related to in-game abuse.
Roblox's email communications have emphasized their commitment to enhancing safety features and tools for parents, reflecting their ongoing efforts to address these critical issues.
Summary based on 8 sources
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Sources
The Verge • Oct 23, 2024
Roblox is making changes for pre-teen users after reports that it failed to protect childrenMashable • Oct 24, 2024
Roblox is adopting some new child safety featuresCNET • Oct 24, 2024
Roblox Adding Parental Controls, Will Require Permissions for Young Players