Petition Link
Looking for opinions on this. I have started a petition too...
Roblox
As a concerned parent, I initially turned off the Roblox chat feature to ensure my child's safety in the virtual world.
Knowing that online interactions can pose risks, I was relieved when the chat was made stricter being sorted into age groups after users verified themselves through a photo, thinking it provided an extra layer of protection.
...However, this measure has led to an unexpected and concerning workaround: The introduction of text signs in games.
These text signs allow players to communicate through messages displayed in the game environment, bypassing the previous safety settings I relied upon. It means my child that never had chat functions at all, now can read and write to anybody, of any age range.
As a result of the ban/age verification process to allow users to chat in similar age groups, it seems the very mechanism intended to protect young users has become ineffective. The creators of Roblox games, in pursuit of keeping engagement and communication alive, have accidentally increased vulnerability, making it more unsafe than before.
The fact that text signs are not part of the original chat moderation makes it a hidden threat that must be addressed immediately.
I think parents around the world need to urge Roblox to reconsider the chat change and instead focus on strengthening moderation measures. By reinstating the chat, we can eliminate the need for text signs and ensure all communications are subject to safety screenings and they would need to look at asking games to ban in chat text signs and/or make it part of an agreement on the platform between developers and Roblox.
Who agrees on the above?!
Link to petition below.