Roblox AIBU?

[Lookslikemeemaw]

School has put out a warning re Roblox - along the lines of - don’t let your kids use it at all.
13 DD plays one game in it. has 10 friends - all re life friends.
I read the latest report and it is terrifying.
But tempted to let her continue. She probably plays it 1-2 a week max.

YABU - get her off it now, not safe.

YANBU - let her keep playing, just talk to her and check her use.

Given it’s been described as a paedophile paradise then sounds like your school is doing a good job. Haven’t you seen the reports about what happens on Roblox? It sounds like a sewer of predators.

My children are around the same age as yours and they are not on it.

What is the latest report?

My ds 13 uses it, there are parental controls, there are lots of parental settings such as disabling messaging.

Honestly I was very worried before he got it, because of horror stories I'd heard online. However we relented during lockdown when his friends were all connecting and playing on it. So he's had it a few years now and with the settings we use there have been no problems.

(My main issue with it is that a lot of the games are shit, and many designed to get you addicted and try and lure you into spending money!)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/games/2024/oct/16/pushing-buttons-roblox-games-for-children

Ok I've looked up the latest news. I think this Guardian article is a balanced response.

I guess if you can avoid Roblox then great, but if your child already uses is, or faces social exclusion for not using it, just be sensible?

Use the parental controls.
Monitor your child's account.
Talk to your child about online safety.
Play with them online sometimes if you can bear it!

Yes it has. Because adults use it too and there’s lots on there that would not be suitable for kids.
DD plays one game,
we have the child locks/age thingy on too so can’t spend money or go on anything over 13.
I’ll sit her down, chat and have her show me what she does on it. I have already checked the console and it seems that she’s not doing much on it.

Dts 13 used to have it. Not anymore. Too dangerous. One of their 'friend' was sexually assaulted in a wardrobe.

You can turn voice chat and text chat off on Roblox.

It's not just a Roblox issue, there's predators all over the internet, if your daughter is safe on there and I'm assuming knows not to contact strangers, she is fine. Theres no need to stop her from playing one game which she plays with friends.

Theres so much scaremongering out there on what not to let your kids on, especially when it comes to the internet, where's the common sense these days.

Simple answer is to watch your kids and what they're on.

I agree with some of the previous posters: if you're sensible and if you've raised your kids to be sensible, then Roblox isn't the worst thing available for them to see online. It has many games but also possibilities to make your own games/games in which you design houses & build up some coding skills etc. We have a firm agreement that never any money is spent on Roblox, but occasionally my kids have used their pocket money to get Robux cards - which is fine by me. I wouldn't allow my 8 yo on it, I think they need to be at least 12 to appreciate the warnings.
I won't allow my daughter on Tiktok/snapshot but occasionally we look at profiles from their friends together and that worries me a lot more. At least in Roblox they have an online character and do not post clips of themselves.