Roblox, a popular online gaming platform, has announced new safety features to protect young children from potential harm. The changes include blocking direct messages for child users by default and requiring verified parents or guardians to grant permission. Parents will also have more control over their child’s account, including viewing online friends and setting daily limits on play time.
Roblox Announces New Safety Features for Under-13s
Roblox, a popular online gaming platform, has announced new safety features aimed at protecting young children from potential harm.
Blocking Direct Messages for Young Users
By default, child users will not be able to send direct messages within games unless a verified parent or guardian grants them permission. This change aims to prevent young users from engaging in potentially harmful conversations with strangers online.
Parental Controls and Verification
Parents will also have more control over their child’s account, including the ability to view their list of online friends and set daily limits on play time. Additionally, parents must verify their identity and age using a government-issued ID or credit card to access parental permissions for their child.
Simplifying Content Descriptions
Roblox is simplifying content descriptions for games and experiences on the platform. Age recommendations are being replaced with “content labels” that outline the nature of the game. These labels range from “minimal” to “restricted,” allowing parents to make informed decisions about their child’s online activities.
Verifying User Age
While Roblox acknowledges the challenge of identity verification, they encourage parents to ensure their child uses their accurate age when signing up for an account. This is seen as a crucial step in creating safer experiences for children on the platform.
Positive Step Towards Safer Online Experiences
Richard Collard, associate head of policy for child safety online at UK charity the NSPCC, has welcomed the changes as “a positive step in the right direction.” However, he emphasizes the need for effective ways to check and verify user age to translate these changes into safer experiences for children.
Implementation Timeline
The new features will begin rolling out on Monday, with full implementation by the end of March 2025. This change comes as part of Roblox’s efforts to evolve its safety approach with the platform’s growing scale.
Related Topics
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Gaming
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Children
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Online Safety Act
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Parental Controls
