Roblox , one of the largest and most popular gaming platforms among children, has launched a series of improvements to its parental control and security systems with the clear objective of continuing to protect its youngest users. With over 90 million daily active users and growing concerns about children's online safety, the company has decided to implement significant changes to its parental control systems . From now on, parents and caregivers will be able to manage many of these options remotely from their own devices, without needing to directly access the child's device.
New management tools for parents
One of the system's main new features is that parents can monitor their children's Roblox activity through a dashboard accessible from their own phones. On this dashboard, they can see how many hours their child has spent playing, review their friends list, and set limits to restrict their daily use of the platform. They can also receive notifications when their children request access to more mature content, allowing them to easily grant or deny permission from their own devices. Given the vastness of Roblox, this measure ensures that minors do not access inappropriate content without the explicit consent of their guardians.
Restrictions on direct messages
Another important measure is the restriction of private messaging for all users under 13 years old. From now on, minors will not be able to send or receive messages outside of games or experiences without parental permission.
This improvement is part of a global effort by Roblox to limit the risks associated with contact between strangers on its platform, paying special attention to maintaining safe communications within the game environment.
Content tags for clarity
Similarly, Roblox has implemented a content tagging system that will classify experiences according to their suitability for different age groups. Experiences will now be divided into four clearly differentiated categories: “minimal,” “mild,” “moderate,” and “restricted,” with the latter being the most restrictive.
Children under the age of 9, for example, will by default only have access to experiences rated as “minimal” or “mild,” while access to “moderate” content will require parental permission. Games that include violence or crude humor will be restricted until the user turns 17 or has the appropriate permission.
Automatic age protections
In addition to content labels, Roblox has implemented automatic protections based on a user's age. As children grow older and move into new age ranges, restrictions will be adjusted, allowing parents to have a conversation with their children about their use of the platform and determine what settings are appropriate.
Parents will receive notifications 30 days in advance of any changes related to their children's age settings, allowing them to review and adjust security settings if they deem it necessary.
Roblox Reviews and Response
These changes come after several critical reports highlighting the lack of protection for minors on the platform. Previous investigations had uncovered cases of grooming and inappropriate content, generating significant media pressure for the company to improve its security systems.
In response, Roblox has redoubled its efforts to ensure its platform is a safer space for children. Roblox's head of security, Matt Kaufman, confirmed that many of these measures are the result of months of consultations with child safety experts and various internal studies to better understand the concerns of parents and young users.
A continued commitment to safety
The company has spent nearly two decades developing and refining its security systems, but they acknowledge there's always room for improvement. From implementing automated filters to remove inappropriate content to using advanced artificial intelligence technologies to enhance moderation, Roblox is committed to continuing to evolve to address future threats.
According to Kaufman, about 10% of the company's total staff is dedicated to security. This includes manual oversight of the most complex reports by specialized moderators, as well as automating preventative controls to stop harmful behavior before it affects users.
With these new tools, Roblox seeks to regain the trust of parents and regulators, consolidating itself as a place where children can enjoy safe games without exposing their privacy or security.