INDIANAPOLIS — The online gaming platform Roblox is introducing new safety features after growing concerns from parents who say the platform puts children at risk.
It’s been about a month since Brilynn York and her two sons, ages 9 and 12, decided they would stop using Roblox for safety reasons.
“Mental health is really important, too, so when I seen a few news reports of children harming themselves, having depression because of the bullying, seeing things they shouldn’t be seeing, having conversations they shouldn’t be having, we just had that talk with them,” York said.
York said she used parental controls and monitored who her sons were chatting with.
“No matter what parental controls I put on, I felt like there were loopholes all the time,” she said.
That led her to sit down with her children for an online safety conversation.
“Not all people have good intentions. Let’s focus on that and find in our heart what feels right. What’s your gut telling you, and shortly after, they’re like ‘I’m going to have to delete it,’” York said.
About 80 million people use Roblox daily.
The company has faced multiple lawsuits alleging it provides an unsafe environment, including a recent lawsuit filed by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman alleging the platform has become a "hunting ground for child predators."
Roblox says it is working to strengthen protections.
“We want parents to know a few things, safety is and has been a top priority,” said Dina Lamdany, a senior product manager with Roblox.
In the coming weeks, Roblox will roll out new chat-related safety features. Who users can communicate with will be tied to age ranges, and users will need to provide a government ID or allow an AI age-estimation tool to photograph their face.
“One thing we do think is important is making sure kids not only have a safe experience, but also an age-appropriate experience, and we’re hoping that this will push that forward,” Lamdany said.
Lamdany encouraged parents to play Roblox with their children at least once a month. The company also recommends linking a parent’s account with their child’s to monitor online interactions.
Roblox officials urge parents to visit the platform’s online Safety Center for additional resources.
