Roblox Introduces New Protections in Face of Growing Scrutiny

Roblox is not a game we paid much attention to previously, and it seems we weren't alone in that. In the wake of a bombshell report that shined a light on the "paedophile hellscape" the wildly popular platform has allegedly been allowed to become, Roblox Corporation, the publisher and developer responsible for policing the game, has begun implementing changes. It's added some that really should have been in place long before accruing an audience of an estimated 50 million daily active users, the vast majority of which are children.

IGN has been monitoring the situation and reports that, as part of the changes due in the months ahead, children under 13 will no longer be able to message users outside the current game or experience directly. Why this feature was enabled by default for accounts intended for kids is just one of the many mysteries that needs looking into; Predators are rife on the platform.

Roblox Corporation, which posted revenue of $2.8 billion in 2023, has spent much time and effort arguing that it isn't responsible for policing this problem. Still, it does appear to be changing direction, and that's noteworthy. Of course, it could just be the mounting legal pressure. The company is currently embroiled in a class-action lawsuit that alleges it breached the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act and is also accused of concocting an illegal gambling ring for kids.