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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to say roblox is not suitable for children and ruining our family life

128 replies

Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:14

Murder game with a knife ,shark game with machine guns,robbing a bank with guns ....are these suitable for children?? The constant request for money to be spent on the game..we downloaded it after reading an article saying how good it was for children to learn from.well yes he now knows the names of different machine guns...oh that's an AK 47 mum...I feel duped because I would not of downloaded it if I knew there was knives and guns.....he has autism,and I've had to remove his laptop to keep him off it ..

OP posts:
AnnieOH1 · 04/08/2018 16:17

Totally agree. We try and carefully curate what games ours play. Downloaded Roblox after reading some really positive reviews. My son's behaviour suddenly went down hill, the only thing that had really changed was the game. In a nutshell, we got rid of Roblox and got our boy back. Really dislike it now, I don't think there's enough information out there about the darker side to Roblox at all.

Funnybunnydog · 04/08/2018 16:19

There are lots of games on Roblox a lot dont have any violence in them at all. If you are bothered by the ones he is playing you will have to monitor more closely. A computer game can only spoil family life if you let it, hope that helps.

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:20

I'm stuck now ,because he can't move on from it..he knows how to reinstall it if I give the laptop back...I'm actually fucking angry at the grief it's causing our family.....but part of that could be my son having autism,so I'm interested to hear other parents views x

OP posts:
IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 04/08/2018 16:20

There are different games within Roblox. You dont have to let them play what your son is playing. You can build houses and create pets etc

Flyingpompom · 04/08/2018 16:21

Mine spends all her time on Roblox building theme parks, or 'working' in a pizza shop. She doesn't buy things in the game because we don't allow her to.
Not had any negative impact on our family life!

Flyingpompom · 04/08/2018 16:23

I'd definitely say it's the asd at play. Just because he knows how to reinstall it doesn't mean he's allowed to. How old is he?

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:24

How do you all manage to keep them off the violent games? Or are you all sat next to your child the whole time they are playing? Is that where I'm going wrong?

OP posts:
Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:24

He's 8

OP posts:
SadieHH · 04/08/2018 16:26

My very cautious scaredy-cat 10yo plays Roblox with her classmates. She plays the sort of games that pompom mentions, would freak if she saw anything dodgy. And I've allowed her to spend a total of 99p on it in all the time she's had it.

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:26

I wish there was a function on the game where I could block the games I dîdnt want him playing ...but to my knowledge there isnt

OP posts:
Flyingpompom · 04/08/2018 16:28

Well they play in the living room mostly. But we just have ground rules. If I don't like the look of a game we discuss it, and if I'm not happy they don't play it. My youngest is 8, eldest is 13.
I've relaxed a bit with the older ones, although they're still not allowed certain games. GTA for example, is hideous, and they won't be allowed that until they're much older.

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:32

I just fail to see why someone would aim a game with knives so you stab someone,and machines that fire ,at children ...who on earth would think that was child friendly ...teenagers ok ...but children ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:32

Machine guns ..that should say ,sorry

OP posts:
Flyingpompom · 04/08/2018 16:37

Well who says it's aimed at children? I believe Roblox is a platform where people design their own games on it. So it may be an older teen or an adult that has designed this one.
It really is up to the parents to monitor the games children play.
I have seen some unsuitable things on Roblox, but you just have to say no. I know it's not easy, and if your DS has ASD then that adds a further complication, but you do just need to lay down some rules.

Funnybunnydog · 04/08/2018 16:38

Our xbox is in the living room so they cant play anything without us being aware of it. How is it impacting your family life? We have rules where there is no point asking me for money to spend on it because they wont get it but if they want to spend their own money on it I wont stop them. They have to come off the xbox when I tell them to and any moaning about that sees me take the xbox power lead to work and leave it there for a week.

Fattymcfaterson · 04/08/2018 16:39

Stop blaming the game for your parenting failures.
If you don't want him to play. Stop him playing it!! Autism or not you still have to provide rules and boundaries

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:40

Cheers fatty ....did you read the fully thread ...I've taken his laptop away so he can't play

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 04/08/2018 16:45

My daughter plays Roblox and she rides around on a bike in it with her pony tail swishing madly and sells food in a cafe. Together with her best friend in both RL and Roblox - they are building a massive house together which is her pride and joy. Occasionally (like once every three months) she asks me for £2. No mention by her of anything you have said your son does, but she would not be interested in that sort of thing.

SnowyAlps · 04/08/2018 16:46

It isn’t a child’s game.

It’s a platform where users build their on games and play others built by other users.

DoulaDaisy · 04/08/2018 16:46

My three girls have it, they only play games where they build houses, work in shops, have fashion shows. Once or twice, as a big reward they've been bought Robux but otherwise, they don't get to buy them. Their behaviour hasn't changed but if it was I'd be taking the same steps as you and removing it from their phones.

SnowyAlps · 04/08/2018 16:47

Own*

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:49

Well he used to play happily running a cafe in the game,then he found the murder game and the shark game where you use machine guns to kill it,then he found the break in to a bank and rob it with guns game...none of which he Actively looked for...there are so many games on there to police it properly I guess I'm going to have to be glued to his side..or not give the laptop back.

OP posts:
SassitudeandSparkle · 04/08/2018 16:51

I did sit with my DD when she first started playing Roblox because of the in-game chat. She has never spent money on it. Agree (and recognise!) some of the non-violent games such as work in a pizza place, Roblox Top Model, various Wipeout/Obstacle Course-type games too.

She does play some of the others now, but I think she is more able to cope with the in-game chat (it can't be turned off in some games).

I think 8 is a bit young for Roblox tbh and yes, sit beside him to see what he plays especially if he is likely to become obsessed. Seems odd to let him download it and not check what is on it first tbh.

Original poster
Slimmingsnake · 04/08/2018 16:52

There's too many games on it to check through them all before downloading

OP posts:
Freshfeelings · 04/08/2018 16:55

Yes you do have to monitor what your children are playing. Mine are allowed on the nice ones like the bee swarm simulator where you keep bees and collect pollen and things like that. I played the game before I let them on it so I could check it out. I guess you've learned a lesson about why you need to be really on the ball with these things.

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