What to know
- Roblox will ban direct messaging for users under 13 outside of games unless parents give permission.
- Parents can now remotely monitor their children’s activities, screen time, friends list and set daily usage limits.
- The platform introduces new content labels ranging from “minimal” to “restricted” to help parents make informed decisions about age-appropriate content.
Roblox has rolled out major safety updates to protect its young users. The platform will stop children under 13 from sending direct messages to other users outside of specific games or experiences.
Young players can only send “broadcast-only” messages while gaming, unless their parents change these settings. This change cuts down risks of unsafe chats in private messaging.
Parents can now check and manage their child’s account settings from their own devices, unlike before when they needed their child’s device. The new parent dashboard displays screen time data, friends lists, and lets them set daily time limits.
The platform now uses simpler content labels: minimal, mild, moderate, and restricted. Kids under 9 can only see minimal or mild content unless parents approve moderate content. Restricted content stays blocked until users turn 17.
Hindenburg Research, a firm known for short-selling, recently released a report accusing Roblox of failing to protect children from being targeted by predators. These changes come after safety concerns about young users on the platform. The company’s safety team spent months studying and talking to experts to make these improvements. Safety experts have welcomed these changes as they help families better protect their kids online. Most features are available now, with more updates coming in early 2025.
Image via: Roblox
