Over the past decade, Roblox has become one of the world’s most popular platforms for young gamers. It’s certainly among the most commercially successful: during one three-month period in 2020, for example, players spent a staggering £200 million on in-game purchases. The possible financial costs, however, aren’t the only area to have caused concern.
How are some sections of Roblox unsuitable for younger players? Why aren’t private or VP servers a water-tight defence against strangers? Who are ODers and why should children be wary of them? Why is it a good idea to disable the private messaging function? Updated for 2022, the NOS #WakeUpWednesday guide to Roblox has the answers.
On the one hand, Roblox encourages creativity and teaches game design. On the other, however, it’s dogged by reports of inappropriate content and online predators. The platform aims to provide a child-friendly environment, but with the majority of Roblox players being under 13, the worries of parents and carers are easily understandable. In this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide, we’ve got tips and advice for enabling children to enjoy Roblox more safely. We’ll explain what the platform’s parental controls can be used for, what options there are for blocking or reporting other players who are being offensive, and how conversations about Roblox can help young users learn to deal with strangers online.
