However, there are still risks to using Roblox, like cyberbullying or peer pressure to spend money on the game. To protect your kid on the platform, make sure to set up parental controls. Here’s how you do that: If you want to find out more about the risks of Roblox and how to protect your kid while they’re having fun on the platform, keep reading our article. You’re right to be worried about the security risks this platform can pose. Kids are especially vulnerable to cybercrime, so it’s important to be vigilant about their safety. Questions you should ask yourself include: Is Roblox safe for kids? What even is “Robux?” What is “safe chat” on Roblox? How can you guarantee online safety for your kids? In this guide to Roblox safety for kids, we answer all of these questions and more.
What is Roblox and How Does it Work?
In the words of its developers, Roblox is an online multiplayer “imagination platform”—which is a pretty accurate description. Roblox is a platform where anyone can play different video games across multiple genres or even create their own games. Roblox provides the tools needed to develop new games for all of its users, allowing budding developers to use their creativity and build games to share with the community. With a little practice, anyone can create games on this platform. People use these games to:
Have fun with friends Showcase their creativity Learn how to develop games Enhance their resume if they seek a career in game development Make money, which is a potential financial avenue for Roblox users
Many users are, of course, content with gaming alone, especially since Roblox is a social platform with a built-in chat feature. A lot of players check out a specific game when their friends recommend it to them. These games might be original creations or home-made variations of official games, like Poppy Playtime. All games listed on Roblox display their age rating. Many rely on communication between players to accomplish a goal, whether that’s building a house or solving a case.
Roblox age restrictions: Best for kids aged 10+
The Entertaining Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Roblox as being suitable for children aged 10+ due to fantasy violence. It’s not recommended for parents to allow children to play the game before they turn 10, similar to other age-appropriate games like Minecraft. Even then, if your kid is still in primary school, we recommend some extra safety measures:
Use your own email address to sign-up. Keep a note of your kid’s credentials. Have your child play in the same room as a responsible adult. Monitor chat interactions.
How does Roblox make money?
Roblox works on a freemium model. This means that the game is free to play; you can access the platform, play with friends, and create games without spending any money. However, some games and in-game items can be purchased with real money. Roblox has its own currency called “Robux,” which can be purchased to access exclusive content on the platform:
This kind of freemium model is not uncommon for video games. Titles like FIFA, Hearthstone, and Genshin Impact use in-game currencies, as well. We have to warn you that Roblox can be difficult to enjoy without purchasing its currency. Other players can pressure your kid into buying Robux to get premium features, and the game itself often displays offers for premium items to your kid. However, if parents have a serious discussion with their kids about Robux and the purchase of digital currency, they should be able to play games without spending real money.
Is Roblox expensive?
It is possible to enjoy Roblox completely for free, but you can make it as expensive as you (or your child) would like. Roblox offers “Robux packages,” which give your kid’s account a set amount of in-game currency per purchase. As of the time of writing, 40 Robux costs $0.49, while 80 Robux costs $0.99. Alternatively, parents can subscribe their kids to a Roblox Premium membership ($4.99 a month), which will give them 450 Robux every month, for as long as your subscription is active. Whether you decide to spend money on Robux, is up to you. However, there are potential problems about buying in-game items with Robux that parents should be aware of. It doesn’t happen often, but the in-game items bought on Roblox could theoretically disappear at any moment. There was an instance of a father from Michigan suing the company for deleting items his daughter bought with Robux.
What is “safe chat” on Roblox?
Roblox used to have a Safe Chat feature that allowed users to choose from a pre-programmed list of responses instead of being able to type a custom message. The goal was to reduce instances of profanity and other inappropriate content in what was a diverse multiplayer game. Currently, the Roblox help and support site doesn’t delve deep into the game’s chat safety features. According to the website, the Roblox app filters chats and posts from players aged 12 and younger, both for inappropriate content and personal information. Meanwhile, the app allows players aged 13 and older to say more words and phrases than younger players. Roblox claims that this filtering system covers all areas of communication on the software, both public and private.
Is Roblox Safe for Kids?
As with all kinds of gaming, there are inherent risks if your kid has unlimited access to Roblox:
Too much time in front of a screen can cause health problems, such as obesity and difficulty sleeping. Chat and other online interactions can be harmful in cases of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can have a strong negative impact on a kid’s development. Over 10 million people who play games have reported instances of cyberbullying. Predators can take advantage of kids who play games online. They won’t usually harass your kid on the app itself. Rather, they’ll convince your child to join them on third-party apps like Discord or Reddit. The user-generated content on Roblox can be harmful, too. If your child’s account doesn’t have parental controls activated, they’ll have access to any game ever created on Roblox. This can include inappropriate games that are violent or sexual in nature. Roblox-related content on platforms like YouTube can also have stronger themes, so caution is important when your child is watching videos and engaging with people outside of the game’s ecosystem. Using a child-friendly platform like YouTube Kids might help here. Their account can be hacked and they can lose all of their in-game items through theft. This practice is known as “beaming” and it can have serious consequences on your child’s wellbeing.
So is Roblox safe? It has its ups and downs. Fortunately, all of these risks can be mitigated so your kids can enjoy Roblox safely.
How to Keep Your Kid Safe on Roblox
Roblox is generally safe for kids. Human moderators, as well as the game’s privacy and security measures, have helped turn this platform into a beautiful community. Risks like cyberbullying still exist, but Roblux is actively fighting against this threat. The company also advocates against revealing personal information. For example, when your kid signs up for the first time, they’ll be encouraged not to use their real name:
If you need some help to make sure your children are protected while playing their favorite games, read through our advice below:
1. Monitor chat interactions and block users on Roblox
Roblox already monitors chat interactions; swear words are censored (they’re replaced with hashtags), and there are human moderators maintaining community standards on all Roblox interactions, regardless of the game your kid plays. This means that online gaming for your kids on Roblox will generally be age-appropriate. However, parents can still step in and make sure their kids are safe on the platform. As stated on Roblox’s safety features page, parents can block other users that may be harassing, bullying, or spamming their child. It’s a good measure to employ if your child is suffering from cyberbullying or peer pressure. Blocking users will prevent the inappropriate user from ever contacting your kid over Roblox. Here’s how to do that: If you think harsher measures should be taken against a player, you can also report them within Roblox itself. One more measure you can take is to deactivate chat altogether. That said, we don’t recommend you do that. Player interaction is a big part of the Roblox experience, and there’s no reason to take that away from your kid. Instead, you can simply filter their chat or even check their messages once in a while.
2. Set up parental controls on Roblox
If you want to feel more at ease while your children play on Roblox, you should set up parental controls on their accounts. To do that, you need to:
By doing this, you’ll be able to limit your kid’s access to specific games and add filters to chat. For example, you might enable the app to censor any messages your children send that include personal information, like an address or their full name. As such, if they’re ever asked for sensitive information, they won’t be able to share it. Enabling these settings will also limit your kid’s access to a curated list of Roblox games that are family-friendly. You can also set up a PIN for the account using parental controls. This will limit access to Account Restrictions, so a user can’t revert the changes you make unless they know your PIN. Important to note is that we don’t recommend you check on children’s game activities every day. Privacy is important to anyone, including young children. You can check their activity every few days or so and discuss the importance of parental supervision. This way, you respect their privacy and keep them updated.
3. Get a strong password and enable additional security options
Make sure your child has a secure password on their account. We included tips for how to create strong passwords in this guide to secure passwords. Ensure, as well, that your child has two-factor authentication enabled when gaming. This will significantly hinder any hacking attempts on your children’s Roblox account. These simple adjustments will help protect your kid’s account against Roblox Beamers, for example.
4. Talk to your kid about Roblox
Cybersecurity options and tools can help your child protect themselves on Roblox, but the most important line of defense remains information. If you have an open discussion about Roblox, digital security, and online safety, your kid will be prepared if someone wants to bully them or get their information. Teens and younger children may seem more tech-savvy than their parents, but that doesn’t mean they’re prepared to deal with harassment, phishing, and other forms of cybercrime. Having an open conversation about the kinds of media they consume will help them navigate the world wide web more confidently and securely.
Roblox Glossary: What Your Kids Are Talking About
Can’t seem to grasp what your kids are talking about with their friends? Video games create unique communities, which then create unique shorthands and slang. These terms may be confusing to people who don’t play Roblox, but they sure help create a sense of community among gamers. Here are some of the more common Roblox-specific terms:
ABC — “A-B-C, easy as 1-2-3.” This means that a player is willing to do something. This term can be used both as a question and an answer. Blox — This means to kill a player in a Roblox game. Brick — The building block of Roblox, a brick refers to commonly-used material that can be used to create all kinds of things in the game. Brick Battle — This refers to combat in-game, either one-on-one or in teams. Cord/Discord — This refers to the popular messaging platform Discord, which can be a dangerous place for unsupervised kids. While Discord has fun and interesting features like video calls and game bots, it also makes it easy for strangers to connect with children. Obby/Obbie — This is shorthand for “obstacle course game,” a popular genre on the platform. Robloxian — This refers to anyone who plays Roblox.
Should I Let My Kid Play Roblox?
Roblox is relatively safe for kids. It has a lot of built-in mechanisms to protect them from cybercrime. But don’t just rely on Roblox systems. Have an open conversation with your kid about not sharing personal data with strangers. If you also set up two-factor authentication on their account, we recommend you let your kid play Roblox. It’s a healthy way to help them develop and share their passions with you. Just beware of the risks we mentioned above and don’t disregard the safety measures we recommended. On top of that, your child should get a chance to enjoy the platform without becoming too dependent on it: make sure they don’t spend all of their time on Roblox.
More Tips to Keep Your Kid Safe Online
Roblox is a fun platform for children. But is Roblox safe? The application also poses some risks if kids spend dozens of unsupervised hours on it. If you want to learn more about how to protect your children while they’re online gaming or browsing the internet, we have more guides you can refer to:
Protecting Kids on Minecraft: Is Minecraft Safe for Kids? How to Keep Your Children Safe Online 8 Simple Steps to Stay Safe Online Video Game Addiction in Kids: How to Stop Excessive Playing
However, there are security risks involved when using Roblox. If you want to find out more about these risks and how to overcome them, read our full article on how to keep your kid safe on Roblox.
Enable parental controls in the Settings tab. Talk to your kids about Roblox. Monitor their chat activity.
If you want to find out more about keeping your kid safe on Roblox, read our article on Roblox safety. Once you’ve set up parental controls, make sure to add a PIN so no one but you can reverse any changes you’ve made to the account’s privacy settings. Roblox offers different “Robux packages” you can buy: 40 Robux costs $0.49, while 80 Robux costs $0.99. You can also subscribe to a Roblox Premium membership for $4.99 a month, which will give you 450 Robux each month, as long as your subscription remains active.
