According to a BBC investigation, Roblox, a popular online game played by children and adults, was reported to have sexually explicit rooms. The site, which has an estimated 150 million monthly active users, allows players to upload and play games and connect with friends — or strangers — using block-like avatars.
But Roblox is facing accusations of child labor exploitation to help it reach those heights. An investigation from People Make Games reveals that the game platform is exploiting young users. That report says Roblox has an estimated 200 million users a month with a core audience aged 9 – 15.
There is a notable absence of any reference to sexualized content in the App Store description of the Roblox App. One could classify some of the avatars as extremely suggestive, if not borderline pornographic.
The game does have some cartoonish violence that is not graphic or realistic, and is fairly easy to join and control, which is what makes it so appealing to younger players. However, while the game itself isn't inappropriate, there are several features that may cause concern for parents.
As per ESRB, Roblox is E10+ rated, which means it can be played by everyone above the age of 10.
Roblox appeals directly children under 12, easy targets who lack the ability to discriminate between appropriate and inappropriate requests. The game invites players to explore imaginary worlds of all kinds. Some of these are sexual in nature.
Top 5 Inappropriate Roblox Games For KidsShedletsky's Dirty Place. The next inappropriate Roblox games for kids is Shedletsky's Dirty Place. ... Survive the Killers. Survive the Killers is a game that contains extreme levels of violence. ... Obby Games. The Obby Games is also popularly known as Obstacles courses. ... Shower Simulator.
Creators aren't required to place a rating or warning on their games, but users and parents can restrict the games available for play by enabling Account Restrictions....Blocking on the website or mobile app:Visit the player's profile.Click the three dots in the upper right corner.Select Block Player.
4 Dangers of RobloxBeware of predators using third-party chat apps. Even with parental controls turned on and chat messaging turned off, predators have found a way to communicate with children while they play Roblox. ... Watch out for sexualized avatars. ... Be cautious with Roblox YouTube videos. ... Look out for bypassed audios.
Why Roblox is So Addictive to Children. Addiction to Roblox (and other similar games like Fornite or Minecraft) is most common with children, especially those under 16. Teens and adolescents are at risk of developing gaming problems because they lack brain development for executive functioning and self-control.
Roblox encourages users to interact through its Chat & Party function. All chat is filtered, which means inappropriate language is replaced by hashtag symbols. Chatting in accounts of kids under 13 is more heavily filtered. Roblox also employs human monitors who keep an eye out for inappropriate language and content.