If you're a parent of a tween, you’ve likely heard about Roblox. But what is Roblox, exactly? And how can Roblox parental controls make your child’s experience safer?
To help you make sense of your kid’s Roblox obsession and navigate potential safety concerns, we’ve compiled this handy Roblox parent’s guide.
Roblox is a wildly popular online gaming platform with over 40 million games for users to choose from. (Yes, you read that number right.)
All of the games (aka “experiences”) on Roblox are user-generated, immersive, 3D worlds with open-ended play and the ability to interact with other players. Popular games allow users to do things like adopt and raise pets, work in a pizza parlor, and live in a fictional town.
Roblox uses a freemium/premium model, meaning it’s free to download and play. But upgraded features, such as special avatar outfits and unique abilities inside games, come at a price.
(Pro tip: Check out our section below on Roblox parental controls to prevent your kid from racking up unauthorized charges.)
If you’ve landed on this article, you’re probably curious if Roblox is safe for your kid to play. The answer is yes … and no. Like most things online, it comes down to how it’s used.
I personally allow my 8-year-old to play Roblox, and it would seem I’m not alone, considering over half of users are under the age of 13.
While there are no official age restrictions for using the platform, the open-chat feature and user-generated content has led Common Sense Media to rate Roblox as safe for ages 13 and up. It’s possible for your child to encounter cartoon weapons, violence, and inappropriate language on Roblox.
Roblox also takes safety seriously and has a number of guardrails in place, such as automatic chat filtering for younger users and age recommendations for all content on the platform. These age categories are all ages, 9+, and 13+.
Despite the potential risks when playing Roblox, there are several big benefits. For one thing, the open-ended play and immersive worlds lend themselves very well to the way kids naturally play. Add to that the ability to design games and play online with friends, and it’s easy to see there’s plenty of wholesome value to be gained.
Given the benefits and the ability to customize the experience to fit the age and maturity of your child, Roblox is safe for kids with proper precautions.
Roblox features a robust suite of parental controls, which they refer to as Account Restrictions.
Because of the open-chat feature, user-generated content which could be unsuitable for children, and the existence of in-game purchases, we highly recommend parents take full advantage of these safety features.
Roblox has a comprehensive guide to using Account Restrictions on their website, which will lead you step-by-step through the process of securing your child’s account.
Here are some of Roblox parental controls you can use:
The chat function and in-game purchases are two of the highest-priority settings to review. Roblox recently expanded its platform to encourage creators to make experiences for users ages 17+. Kids won’t be able to engage with these experiences, but a higher portion of adult users means that it’s a good idea to limit how your child can interact with people they don’t know.
Additionally, Roblox’s in-game currency (called Robux) enables kids to get special objects in games, special outfits for their avatars, and other perks — but they require real money to purchase. You can set limits on your child’s spending habits with Account Restrictions.
It’s worth noting that all of the Account Restrictions can be overridden by the user, unless there’s a parent PIN on the account — so pick a PIN your child won’t guess.
Using Account Restrictions is paramount to keeping your child safe on Roblox, but your responsibility doesn’t end there.
Roblox has users of all ages. As your child begins using the app, take the time to review basic online safety measures with them, including the importance of not sharing personal information online.
At BrightCanary, we always advise against a set-it-and-forget-it approach to your kid’s online activity. Keep an eye on their Roblox use and make it a point to regularly sit down with them to see what they’re playing. These regular check-ins will help you spot any problems that may sneak through the safeguards — and you get the bonus of some bonding time with your kiddo.
Roblox is a popular online gaming platform that offers many benefits to kids, from creativity to social bonding. Potential safety concerns can be effectively mitigated by taking advantage of parental controls, discussing safe use with your child, and practicing regular tech check-ins.
