Roblox

[helloxhristmas]

Apparently Dts are the only ones in y5 who don't have Roblox and I'm getting whinged at daily to let them have it...

I've done some reading and found some old Mumsnet threads all make me want to say no.

Do your nine year olds have it?

The thing that put me off was the chat aspect.
Mine don’t have it but we are in the minority. Same as what’s app for the older one. Again in the minority

We have it with LOTS of parental restrictions. No link to real money only friends allowed people we’ve met in real life and any new game mummy needs to check!

You can set controls to switch off chat function, I have done for my younger ones can't exactly remember how but it's in settings.

My 7 year old DD plays it but she's only allowed to play it on the PC in the living room with us. She never goes on the chat and there's no bank card connected to it. She's never asked for money for it anyway. Most of the kids in her class play.

Ours have it and it’s been fine. They join the same games as their friends and chat over Houseparty at the same time. It’s been really positive when they’re not allowed to do play dates etc. Some arguing, but that comes with the territory.

My year 6 had it, he has it when in year 5. His co sold is downstairs where I can see him and you can restrict chat and friends in it so he can only talk to people he knows.

Console*

Yes my youngest is 9 and has it and we’ve never had any issues. As long as you keep a close eye it’s fine.

My kids have it and they're younger than yours. If you parent it properly, then it is fine. Chat is off. Age restrictions set. Bank account details pin and password protected. Console is password protected. They play it in the living room with an adult present.

It's fine as long as you check the settings and monitor the usage.
And to be fair to your DTs, they probably are the only ones without it.
They're going to have to learn to negotiate the internet eventually, just teach them how to do it safely.

I teach that age, the vast majority of my class have it. Overall it seems to be going well, though there's been a few upsets when they trade with someone and don't get something back/get given something other than what they were promised. There's learning in that though I suppose.

Mine have had it but never used the chat (I assume because it's more awkward to do on the Xbox than the PC). The only reason we stopped it was because it was on the Xbox on the family TV and I was sick of constantly seeing it. It's utter garbage but they love it.

Dgd, 9, has been on Roblox for a good while, with the full support of her family.
She's learned how not to get scammed (by bitter experience), to be robust when dealing with unpleasant strangers, to report anything dodgy to parents and Roblox (the one I remember was 'Can I be your boyfriend?', that was last year... she was having none of that!). She has fun, buys some lovely clothes in her games, and has a good time.

I was v reluctant but agreed for my 9yo to have it during lockdown. We turned off the chat function and protected the settings with a PIN. Only allowed to friend people we know, and I check the games from time to time.

He often plays online while on a call with friends, which has been mostly really positive. Some arguments, mostly related to bloody Adopt Me trades.

We said a flat no to spending money on robux, which caused a bit of tension at times but generally he accepts the rule.

I set up my own account as he was going on about it so much and wanted me to play with him. It's been useful actually, as I can see what it's all about. The games he is playing are harmless fun. Not come across anything dodgy at all. I think as long as you keep an eye on it it's absolutely fine.

Nope not for my dc. They have computer games but nothing online.

Thank you all. They've got it now, I've locked down everything and not linked a card and told them they can only play it when we are in the room with them.

I do t let DDs (9 and 10) have it. I do t care if they are the few without it, not worth the risk IMO