Roblox developer urges parents to monitor children 24/7

A freelance creator on Roblox expresses concerns that current safety measures, such as verifying ages, fall short of adequate protection.

Roblox claims the top spot among gaming choices for the UK's eight to 12-year-olds.

In a special conversation with BBC Radio 5 Live, the developer—choosing to remain anonymous at their preference—urges parents to always keep a close watch on their kids using the platform, implying if constant supervision isn't viable, it might be best to avoid using Roblox.

A Roblox representative emphasised, "Ensuring safety is crucial, and we've implemented advanced protections and filters aimed at preventing inappropriate content and interactions, thereby safeguarding our entire user base."

In 2024, Roblox consistently engaged over 80 million players worldwide each day, with nearly 40% being under 13.

Sam, as he wishes to be called, reached out to the BBC following an interview on 5 Live Breakfast with Matt Kaufman, Roblox's head of safety.

During the interview, Kaufman described the platform's detailed security measures, highlighting the obligatory age verification introduced for all UK users in January 2026.

Sam, not affiliated directly with Roblox, crafts games as an independent developer under contract with the platform. Additionally, he volunteers for a nonprofit focused on online safety.

He stated that his observations of safety measures differ markedly from what Kaufman described.

Users on Roblox can either develop their own games or enjoy those made by others, with the platform functioning like an open-world environment where players interact. 

Developers add a game summary and a content maturity sticker to designate an appropriate age group.