Child safety on Roblox

Roblox is a popular online game platform where many children play. The company behind it is called Roblox Corporation. Some people worry about children seeing bad things or meeting unsafe adults on Roblox. Because of these worries, some countries have not allowed Roblox. As of August 2025, the company faces lawsuits in the United States for not protecting children well enough.

Many Roblox players are under 13 years old. Sadly, some bad people have tried to trick and hurt children on Roblox. This has led to some arrests. Roblox has also been criticized for how it handles game purchases and how it treats young game makers.

To help keep children safer, Roblox has made some changes. In 2024, certain games were only allowed for players over 13, and the platform added controls to stop messages to younger users. Roblox also improved its friend system to check ages better. In 2025, games with private spaces were limited to users aged 17 and above. Parents can turn off in-game purchases and choose which games their children can play.

Background

Roblox is an online game platform and game creation system made by Roblox Corporation. It lets players make and share their own games, called "experiences." These games can be about many different things, like role-playing or other fun activities. Roblox is free to play, but players can buy a special currency called "Robux" to get extra items or special games.

In 2025, Roblox had over 100 million players every day, and many young children love to play there. About half of all American kids under 16 play Roblox, and around 40% of all players are younger than 13. The game is meant to be family-friendly, but because players create the games, it can be hard to make sure everything is safe for everyone. Some groups suggest parents help guide younger players.

Keeping children safe

Roblox is a popular online game platform. Some people have worried about keeping children safe there. A few groups have tried to trick children into talking to adults who want to do bad things. In 2022, a 13-year-old girl left her home after talking to someone she met on Roblox.

Some games on Roblox have been criticized for having content not right for children. These games sometimes move to other chat services to talk more freely. Roblox invited some game makers to a special event in 2025, but some people were upset because one invitee made games with romantic themes. Roblox later removed this person and banned their account.

Further information: Roblox–Schlep controversy, and Chris Hansen § Dangerous Games: Investigating Roblox

Some players have tried to help keep children safe by reporting people they think are not right for children. One player, known as Ruben Sim, shared messages he thought were harmful. Roblox later sued Sim for spreading false information.

In August 2025, Roblox sent a notice to a YouTuber named Schlep for making videos about people trying to trick children. Roblox banned Schlep and his group, which made many players and creators unhappy. Some people asked for the CEO of Roblox to leave. Schlep plans to fight this in court. TV journalist Chris Hansen made a report about child safety on Roblox in February 2026.

Financial exploitation

Roblox has been criticized for how it handles money and purchases that can affect children. Some experts say it is too easy for kids to spend money on small, quick purchases without their parents knowing. Many games on Roblox include special boxes that give random rewards when opened — similar to games of chance that can encourage risky behavior.

In 2022, a group asked officials to look into Roblox for not clearly showing when ads were part of the games. As a result, Roblox started hiding some ads from users under 13 years old. However, this didn’t stop all hidden ads, which led to more concerns from groups that protect children’s rights online.

Political extremism and violence

Roblox has sometimes shown content with extreme political views. Some games let players act out roles that copy real-life violent events or show harmful stereotypes. Players have also used avatars and tools to share symbols that spread hate.

Unfortunately, some people have used the platform to plan or talk about harmful actions. In rare cases, this caused problems for some players. The company works to remove these games when they find them, but it can be hard to catch everything.

Moderation and safety updates

In October 2020, Roblox started using more staff to watch over the games and keep things safe. By 2024, they had about 3,000 people working just on safety. Roblox lets parents turn off spending in the game and choose which games their children can play. Game makers must fill out a form to help decide if a game is okay for younger players or needs older players.

In late 2024 and through 2025, Roblox made several changes to help keep younger players safer. They stopped some social games for users under 13 and added new controls for parents. Younger kids can only see simpler games unless a parent allows more. Roblox also planned to change how friends are added and chat works, using age checks to make sure kids are talking to people their age. These changes aim to create a safer place for children while letting families decide what’s right for them.

Legal actions and regulation

Further information: Censorship of Roblox, Roblox § Restrictions by country, and Roblox Corporation § Legal disputes

Many countries have made rules to help keep children safe on Roblox. In Australia, leaders asked Roblox to make its safety features better because some children could see bad things or talk to strangers online. Other places in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America have also worried about this.

In the United States, some people have taken legal steps against Roblox. They say the platform could do more to protect children from bad content or people who might want to harm them. Some states have worked with Roblox to improve safety and help child safety programs. This shows how important it is for online games to keep children safe and how governments are trying to help with these problems.