Roblox Isn’t Just a Game – It’s a World. And Parents Need to Understand the Risks

Jun 08, 2025 Features / Columnists, News

---

By Karen Abrams, MBA, AA, Doctoral Candidate

Kaieteur News – Nearly 20 years ago, when our children first became obsessed with a strange online platform called Roblox, I couldn’t understand the appeal. They weren’t asking for money, they were begging to do chores in exchange for “Roblox,” a virtual currency used only inside the game. The graphics looked basic, even clunky, and the experiences seemed random and chaotic to me. But they were hooked. What I didn’t know then was that Roblox, first launched in 2006 by software engineers David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, had begun as a physics-based educational tool. Over time, it evolved into a vast, user-generated 3D universe where anyone could build and play games, what the company calls “experiences.” Fast forward to today, Roblox boasts over 90 million daily users across the globe, with nearly 40 per cent of them under the age of 13.

In our STEMGuyana clubs, it’s still the game of choice among our learners who are waiting for their parents to pick them up. It also remains a global phenomenon where players don avatars (a customisable digital character that represents a player), enter digital worlds built by other users, and engage in everything from obstacle courses to fashion shows. When my children were playing roblox, I was just a confused parent, skeptical of its value and unaware of the risks. Today, I’m much more vigilant.

That vigilance deepened after hearing about a recent harrowing incident in California where a 10-year-old girl was abducted by a man she met through Roblox and Discord. The news broke shortly after Roblox CEO David Baszucki had reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance stance on exploitation and child endangerment. The case exposed the sobering truth, even platforms that tout child safety can fall dangerously short. Roblox condemned the act and pledged cooperation with law enforcement, but the incident shattered many parents’ trusts and forced us to confront a darker side of our children’s favorite online playground.

The warning signs were already there. A recent investigation by UK-based digital behavior researchers Revealing Reality, reported by The Guardian, highlighted the troubling ease with which children encounter inappropriate content on Roblox. Their study used dummy accounts registered to fictional users aged 5 to 13, and what they uncovered was alarming. Young avatars could access sexually suggestive roleplay rooms, overhear explicit voice chats, and even be approached by adult avatars asking for contact information in thinly coded language. Despite parental controls and AI filters, the system was clearly being manipulated, and children were at risk.

Roblox insists that safety is a top priority. The company added more than 40 new safety features in 2024 alone, including AI-driven moderation of voice chat, better parental dashboards, and restrictions on who can message whom. Still, as Revealing Reality’s report noted, these protections are only partially effective. Age verification remains inconsistent, and many experiences on the platform are inaccurately described, making it nearly impossible for parents to determine what’s safe and what isn’t, especially in Guyana where digital literacy among parents is quite low.

Roblox has become a global phenomenon, a virtual world where children log on for creativity, community, and fun, but without guidance and supervision, they’re logging into a space where predators, inappropriate content, and peer pressure also roam freely. The platform offers genuine benefits, some children are even learning to code and build games, but these positives cannot overshadow the serious vulnerabilities.

So, what can be done?  First, education. Parents need to learn how platforms like Roblox work. Know what Roblox is, what your child is playing, who they’re chatting with, and what the safety settings are. Roblox’s safety center allows you to restrict access to certain games, monitor interactions, and get activity summaries. You can even disable chat functions entirely for younger users (advisable).

Second, conversation. Regularly talk to your children about their digital lives, what games they play, what friends they make, what messages they receive. Let them know they can come to you with anything uncomfortable, no matter how small.

Roblox also supports new U.S. legislation like COPPA 2.0 and the Take It Down Act, which aim to make platforms more accountable. While these are American laws, their spirit is global, acknowledging that tech companies must take proactive steps, not reactive ones, to protect minors.

And finally, participation. As Baszucki suggests, try playing Roblox with your child. Yes, you might feel silly, but being present in their world is the best way to stay informed, build trust, and spot red flags early.  Technology will continue to evolve, but the core challenge remains, keeping our children safe while allowing them the freedom to grow and explore. Roblox can be magical, but only if the magic doesn’t come at the cost of their safety. 

---

• California, COPPA 2.0, David Baszucki, Erik Cassel, Karen Abrams, Roblox CEO, STEMGuyana

---