Roblox is an online game platform and creation system developed by Roblox Corporation, founded by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004 and released in 2006. The platform enables users to create and play games in various genres, coded in Lua. The platform is free to play, but offers in-game purchases using virtual currency called Robux. As of August 2020, it had over 164 million monthly active users, with a majority being American children under 16. Because it is both an online gaming platform and has a lot of players under the age of 16, you might be wondering if Roblox is safe for your children and we have the answer!
Is Roblox safe for children?
Yes, Roblox can be safe for children, but it is important for parents to be an active participant in what their children are playing and interacting with. Roblox has several customizable parental controls that enable parents to have better control and insight over how their children participate in the Roblox community.
Roblox also has even put together a Parent’s Guide to Roblox to help assist parents in helping to ensure the safety of their children while they participate in the Roblox community. In addition to parental controls, Roblox has also entered into several safety partnerships and earned certifications to give parents more comfort in letting their children participate on the platform.
Roblox Safety Partnerships
Roblox had partnered with over 30 different global organizations that aim to improve child wellbeing, online safety, or both. They also have a Safety & Civility Advisory Board that include members from Family Online Safety Institute, ConnectSafely, the UK Safer Internet Centre, kidSafe, Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK), The EU Better Internet for Kids (Insafe), and the Digital Wellness Lab. The aim is for Roblox to utilize these experts in order to create a healthier environment for everyone to participate in.
Roblox Certifications
Roblox adheres to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by participating in the kidSAFE Safe Harbor program, which ensures compliance with COPPA regulations. The program involves annual audits by kidSAFE to verify Roblox’s adherence to both COPPA and kidSAFE’s child safety requirements. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approves these self-regulatory guidelines, and kidSAFE also acts as an ombudsman for filing complaints about user experiences with Roblox, which may require immediate action in some cases.
It also complies with Germany’s Youth Media Protection State Agreement (JMStV) by partnering with the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) to meet German youth protection regulations. The USK acts as a liaison between Roblox and German supervisory bodies. To receive the USK quality seal, demonstrating compliance with legal regulations and a high youth protection standard, Roblox underwent an audit of its platform.
Roblox Community Standards
Roblox’s Community Standards are designed to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all users. They focus on the following key areas:
- Treat others with respect: Users are expected to be polite, avoid harassment, and respect others’ privacy.
- Keep personal information private: Sharing personal information, such as full names, addresses, or phone numbers, is prohibited.
- Encourage a positive environment: Users should promote a welcoming atmosphere, free from discrimination or offensive behavior.
- Follow the rules of each experience: Users should adhere to specific guidelines set by individual game creators.
- Use appropriate usernames and content: Usernames, avatars, and in-game content should be suitable for all ages and not contain offensive language or imagery.
- Play fair: Cheating, exploiting, or engaging in other disruptive behavior that affects the game experience is not allowed.
- Keep accounts secure: Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their accounts and should avoid sharing passwords or other sensitive information.
- Respect intellectual property: Users must not infringe on the copyrights or trademarks of others when creating content.
Violations of these standards may result in warnings, temporary suspensions, or permanent bans, depending on the severity and frequency of the offenses.
Roblox can absolutely be a safe online platform for children of different ages to participate in and enjoy, but it is important that parents take advantage of parental controls, understand community standards, and teach their children to report any violations or problems to them, as parents, to take to Roblox or show them how to report in-game, if age-appropriate. We hope this has helped answer your question if Roblox is safe for children!
If you do end up having your kids play on the platform, make sure they head to our Roblox Game Codes page to get free stuff on a variety of experiences they may be playing.
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