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Original poster

To not let my 9 year old play Roblox

53 replies

Popfan · 04/10/2017 18:59

My 9 year old DS is banging on about wanting to play Roblox. I've said no as I'm concerned about the chat function. There are restrictions for under 12s and apparently it can be disabled but I still feel worried. What do you all think?

OP posts:
snugglecat · 04/10/2017 19:05

Watching this with interest, my 10 year old thinks im mean because ive said no as im unsure if its safe

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 04/10/2017 19:07

This is the second time I've seen this mentioned today and I've never heard of it before-
what is it??

MongerTruffle · 04/10/2017 19:07

The chats are moderated. You can disable them, but they are very easily re-enabled.

Fekko · 04/10/2017 19:09

Don't do it - it's like kiddie crack! Absolutely compulsive. 'Muuuuuum, an you get me a google play card? I neeeeeed it!'

Tazerface · 04/10/2017 19:09

My boys play Roblox. We haven't disabled Chat as they are a) always in the room with an adult when playing; b) not quick enough at reading anyway to notice. However, their accounts are locked down so they can't be friended or anything overall so I think that might override the Roblox options?

In the whole time they've played it there's been one instigated Chat. Someone said hi. I said hi back (I was playing it) other player disconnected.

Maddiemademe · 04/10/2017 19:09

I allow my 6 year old fa to play. Turn off the chat function though to be honest I have never witnessed anything inappropriate on there. The games are simple for children to play (and adults too!) I was bugged constantly as he had seen someone playing it on YouTube and I relented but made sure I supervised first.

Honestly have a little go yourself first if it makes you feel better but I would have no qualms letting children play it.

Maddiemademe · 04/10/2017 19:10

*6 year old ds Blush

NetRunner · 04/10/2017 19:12

DS 10 plays. Never had an issue with anything inappropriate.

DropZoneOne · 04/10/2017 19:13

My DD plays it, she loves it, arranges with her school friends to be online at the same time. I've disabled something - friends I think because she can chat. She knows not to talk about herself, it's all very mundane. She's 9 and they've had two talks about online safety at school.

bobkate · 04/10/2017 19:13

After going to an internet safety evening which flagged up this and musically, amongst some other apps/games as being places where the majority of users are in fact older adults on the lookout for vulnerable kids, it would be a no no for my kids if they asked to access it.

Doomhutch · 04/10/2017 19:15

Teacher here - we have endless issues with it at school. Put it off for as long as you can!

coldcanary · 04/10/2017 19:16

Both DD's play it with chat turned off. Some of the games glitch to buggery which is a real pain in the arse but we've had no problems with the social aspect of it.

Ilovehamabeads · 04/10/2017 19:16

My DS(9) loves Roblox. He plays with his friends on Xbox, the games all seem pretty simple. I don't know the ins and outs of roblox but he's never played with anyone other than his own Xbox friends. None of them use chat, it takes them too long to type! They just talk with headsets.

bigkidsdidit · 04/10/2017 19:17

My nearly 7yo begs to play it as a lot of his friends do. I have refused too.

Rinoachicken · 04/10/2017 19:19

My DS (8) plays it. I turned off chat and disabled the friends options, so no one can add him as a friend. He can add his school friends if they write down their username for him, but tbh he is o my interested in playing the games and not at all bothered by the social side.

He plays it on the iPad but I also downloaded it on my phone and logged in as him so I can immediately see if someone tries to contact him (never happened).

Whosthemummynow · 04/10/2017 19:21

My kids play roblox, as I find teaching them how to be safe online is more effective than just a blanket ban

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/10/2017 19:22

I would and do allow Roblox.

There has been some unpleasantness on chat earlier in the year with the boys in his friendship group setting up chats to be unkind to another and also some hacking of each others' accounts. All monitored so intercepted and dealt with. Also learnt a lesson about sharing logins (had done the whole internet safety thing, did it at school but ds is very green and too trusting). Better to learn this now then at 12 or 14 when he's less likely to want to be hanging out with me and talk to me about stuff.

JigglyTuff · 04/10/2017 19:22

Just turn off chat. I'm curious as to what other issues there are with it?

DixieNormas · 04/10/2017 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheMasterNotMargarita · 04/10/2017 19:35

Dd played for a while but I thought that much of the point was that you interact.
Way too many inappropriate comments. Nothing awful but things like let's be bffs, then be my girlfriend, come for a sleepover..I watched closely and didnt like where it was leading.
There was also one game adopt-a-baby I think. Some of them formed a gang and went round 'killing' the babies. We are very lucky she told us as she knew something was off with it.
It got deleted. She prefers Animal Jam now.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/10/2017 19:38

We don't allow the baby killing game either.

Allthewaves · 04/10/2017 19:40

My 6 yr old and 9 year old play. They r only allows to play signed in with their log in as iv set accounts up for both for under 12s. Stops them playing unsuitable games and iv disabled chat

Allthewaves · 04/10/2017 19:41

Kids r obsessed woth jail break

Allthewaves · 04/10/2017 19:43

I get lots of moans their friend r playing x game on it and I say tough. If you set up child accounts in believe it only let's them play moderated games?

Original poster
Popfan · 04/10/2017 19:54

Thank you so much for all your replies. There seems to be more people saying yes than no and the chat disable option and under 12 settings do sound ok. However, there's enough of you telling me not to do it to persuade me at the moment to stick to with my initial reaction and not let him play for now. I just don't think I feel comfortable enough with it.

OP posts:
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