Roblox : – Video game maker Roblox is going to implement new safety rules for users under the age of 13, including permanently disabling the ability to send messages to others outside of games on its platform. However, users under the age of 13 are still allowed to message others in games with parental consent.
The gaming platform, Roblox, which reported nearly 89 million users in the last three months, said it would allow parents and caregivers to remotely manage their child’s Roblox account, and view friend lists, set spending controls and manage screen time.
Roblox has faced claims of child abuse on its platform.
In the month of August, Turkey blocked access to Roblox following a court order, as prosecutors investigated concerns about user-generated content potentially leading to abuse. A 2022 lawsuit filed in San Francisco claimed Roblox facilitated the sexual and financial exploitation of a California girl by adult men, allegedly encouraging her to drink alcohol, abuse prescription drugs, and share sexually explicit photos.
The company said it also introduced a built-in setting that would let users under the age of 13 only access public broadcast messages within games or experiences. Roblox will replace age-based content labels with descriptors ranging from “minimal” to “restricted,” indicating what type of content users can expect. By default, users under the age of nine can only access games labeled “minimal” or “light.”
These new restrictions will also prevent users under the age of 13 from searching, discovering, or playing unlabeled experiences, the company said. Restricted content will remain inaccessible until the user is at least 17 years old and verifies their age.
Roblox shares closed Monday up 0.30 at $51.03.
