Roblox Enhances Parental Controls for Improved Child Safety
Roblox, the popular online gaming platform, has recently unveiled a significant update to its parental control features, aiming to provide parents with greater oversight and control over their children’s online activities.
The new features, which include the ability to block specific games and friends, set content maturity restrictions, and monitor screen time, come as Roblox reports over 32 million daily users under the age of 13 in 2024.
“Parents will now be able to view their child’s friend list and block or report any of the people on the list,” said Dina Lamdany, senior product manager for Roblox. This capability extends to blocking specific games or experiences, ensuring they remain inaccessible to children even if they appear in search results.
The enhanced parental controls also allow for setting age restrictions based on content maturity labels, categorized as minimal, mild, moderate, and restricted. However, parents cannot currently restrict access based on specific descriptors like “light realistic blood.”
For users under 13, Roblox has implemented stricter communication settings, limiting direct messaging outside of games or experiences. Parents can further adjust chat settings to ensure their child’s safety within the platform.
The update also introduces spending limitations, allowing parents to set a cap on in-game purchases and receive notifications for monitoring purposes. Additionally, parents can now set daily screen time limits and access detailed insights into their child’s most played games over the past week.
These enhancements reflect a broader trend in online safety measures across social media and gaming platforms. Lamdany emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to safety, stating, “We think about safety really as this ongoing process because our technology is evolving, but also because we’re learning more and more over time about what parents and kids need.”
The new Roblox features stand out in the industry, offering remote access and friend list viewing capabilities that some other platforms lack. This approach aligns with growing concerns about cyberbullying, online predators, and excessive screen time among young users.
While addressing safety concerns, Roblox also highlights the positive aspects of its platform, including opportunities for creativity, social interaction, and learning in a controlled environment. The company continues to balance these benefits with robust safety measures to create a secure online space for young users.
As online gaming and social platforms evolve, the implementation of comprehensive parental controls like those introduced by Roblox may become increasingly crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of young users in digital spaces.
