Roblox and the hidden dangers of online play

BY YAHYA KARIM

For many parents the world of online gaming can feel like a double-edged sword. Platforms such as Roblox, provide imaginative spaces and social connections for kids all round the world. They also pose a threat. If your child is one of the 85 million daily Roblox users, these are some dangers you need to know about.

“Despite Roblox being a child friendly game, it has reportedly struggled to protect its younger users.”

The alarming reality

Imagine this; your child’s in-game character steps into a virtual room on Roblox, only to be met with sexually suggestive animations, with no warning whatsoever.  Despite Roblox being a child friendly game, it has reportedly struggled to protect its younger users, 40% of which are under 13 years of age.

How we got to this point

Parental controls used to be much easier; you just had to click a few buttons to block any sort of explicit content., Nowadays, even with such advanced AI there is still not a 100% percent guarantee that your child won’t be exposed to suggestive content.

Consider this real example: a 10-year old’s avatar enters a “game” where there are characters performing adult themed dances. Damon De Lono, a researcher from Revealing Reality noted how on Roblox, children can still communicate with adults if they are on their friends list, a huge security gap in Roblox.

What’s missing from parental controls today

The current security level of parental controls has worsened with their being:

• Static filters: Many security systems rely on outdated word lists that are much easier for kids, or strangers to evade
• Slow updates: Safety features almost always are behind new threats, making it harder for parents to keep up

Real world impact

David, a father from Calgary, discovered how a stranger convinced and guided his son on how to bypass the security controls on Roblox. Without better controls platforms such as Roblox still remain grounds where suggestive content and predators may be found.

Why this matters

Platforms like Roblox are just the beginning. If we want to keep our kids safe, we need smarter and more adaptable tools. Don’t just rely on apps to protect your kid-get involved and keep conversation with them.