Is Roblox Safe for Kids? The Parental Safety Guide (2023)

Is Roblox Safe for Kids? Here’s What You Need To Know

Roblox is one of the most popular games in the world, with American kids and teens spending an average of 190 minutes a day playing the game [*]. But is Roblox safe for kids? The unfortunate truth is: not always. 

Roblox allows players to create their own experiences — which means that lurking within this $38 billion gaming platform is a dark underbelly of inappropriate adult content, cyberbullies, scammers, hackers, and online predators [*]. 

“Beamers” steal virtual items from other players while “condo” or “scented” games can force adult content onto unsuspecting Roblox players — including children.

While the vast majority of gaming experiences on Roblox are safe for kids, it’s important for parents to understand the risks — and how to avoid them. 

In this guide, we’ll explain how Roblox works and how you can help keep your kids safe while playing online.  

What Is Roblox? What Are the Risks of Letting Your Child Play?

Roblox is an online multiplayer gaming platform on which users create their own avatars to play games and explore experiences created by others. The immersive virtual world combines user-generated gaming experiences, social media, and social commerce. 

Gamers can create and play Roblox games on smartphones, PC, Xbox, and Mac devices and invite others to their game experiences— similar to Minecraft. This cross-platform availability helped Roblox become one of the most popular games among young people during the pandemic. Nearly 80% of Roblox's users are under the age of 16 [*]. 

As user-generated content is such a massive part of the platform, Roblox thrives on the imagination of its players. Unfortunately, some people's imaginations can turn this virtual universe into a dangerous place for young children. 

Many users build “experiences” within Roblox that contain adult content — including profane language, violence, and sexually explicit imagery. But these are not the only risks that Roblox poses to children and teens.

Here are the nine biggest online threats associated with playing Roblox. 

• Cyberbullying. Over 90% of children have experienced or witnessed some form of bullying while playing video games [*]. The anonymous nature of Roblox (and all online games) makes it easy for people to abuse others. 
• Online predators luring your child. Roblox includes text messaging and voice chat. This means that children could end up talking with dangerous strangers, who may try to lure them into private chats on other platforms. 
• Inappropriate or adult content. Roblox players can create their own games. The notorious condo games (also known as “scented cons”) present a big concern for parents. These spaces often contain virtual strip clubs, naked characters, and users simulating sexually explicit experiences. 
• Games containing simulated violence. Creators are able to make games in which the goal is to attack other gamers. Players can kill and be killed, often with gratuitous violence, through the use of guns, knives, and bloody fights.
• Online scammers targeting children. Robux is the in-game currency that  players use to buy items and upgrades. You can buy Roblox with real money or earn virtual currency while playing the game. But many fraudsters run phishing scams to steal Roblox or real money from children. 
• Account takeovers and hacking. There’s a community of people who “beam” other users — which means they could gain unauthorized access to your child’s account to steal valuable virtual items. These thieves sell the stolen assets on underground marketplaces for USD or cryptocurrency [*].  
• Financial fraud. If your children share their login credentials or get hacked, the perpetrator could steal their Robux. Worse still, the thief could exploit connected payment options, like your credit card.
• Malware and other viruses. A recent survey found that Roblox is among the games ranked highest by the number of related cyber threats and impacted users [*].  
• Excessive gaming. Due to the impressionable ages of young children and teens, addiction is one of the most significant risks of online gaming. This obsession can cause kids to lose interest in real life at the expense of their hobbies, friends, school, and health.

💡 Related: Family Identity Theft Protection: The Parental Guide for 2023 →

Does Roblox Have Age Limits? 

Roblox includes age recommendations for all content on its platform. These categories are as follows:

• All ages: content is suitable for everyone. These games on Roblox are deemed “safe” for kids, as they only include mild violence or small amounts of unrealistic blood.
• 9+: content is suitable for everyone aged nine and older. The games include more mild violence or heavy amounts of unrealistic blood.
• 13+: content is suitable for everyone aged 13 and older. The games include frequent instances of more serious violence and small amounts of realistic blood.

However, while Roblox has recommendations that suggest what age groups should play the games, it doesn’t automatically apply age verification checks to restrict children from accessing the content.

As the platform centers around user-generated content, there’s no guarantee that everything your child sees during gameplay will be age-appropriate. Because of the inherent risks of this design, PEGI has upgraded Roblox’s rating from PEGI 7 to Parental Guidance Recommended.

The Parent’s Guide: 12 Ways To Keep Your Kids Safe on Roblox

1. Use Safe Gaming tools to monitor in-game conversations
2. Set up a Parent PIN
3. Enable “Allowed Experiences” controls to block chat and other features 
4. Learn how to check what your kids are doing on Roblox
5. Protect your child’s account with a strong password and 2FA
6. Teach your kids not to give out personal information
7. Monitor conversations over voice chat
8. Show your kids how to report inappropriate messages or abuse
9. Set time limits for mobile games
10. Protect your devices with antivirus software
11. Talk to your kids about what to do if they encounter adult content
12. Play with your kids to see how they use the platform

Rather than worrying if Roblox is safe for kids, here are 12 steps that you can actively take to protect your children while they enjoy online gaming:

1. Use Safe Gaming tools to monitor in-game conversations

Most parents' greatest fear is that their kids will run into an online predator or bully. Roblox has built-in features to block inappropriate content — but you can go further to keep your child safe. By reviewing your kids’ online conversations, you can ensure that they aren't talking with predators or getting bullied.

How to monitor in-game conversations in Roblox:

• Install Aura’s Safe Gaming features. You can get alerts to threats with 24/7 in-game voice and text monitoring for over 200 of the most popular PC games. 
• Check your child’s chat history in Roblox. Currently, Aura allows you to monitor text chat to keep tabs on new friendships and conversations. 
• Talk with kids about online chat etiquette. If you spot any concerning issues in your children's private messages and group chats, talk to them. You can teach them to spot red flags and encourage them to ask for help when needed. 

2. Set up a Parent PIN

You can lock access to your child’s Roblox account settings by creating a four-digit PIN. Once enabled, there will be an additional layer of security to protect the account details — including your password, email address, and privacy settings. 

How to set up a parent PIN in Roblox:

• Log in to your account. If you have forgotten your password or can’t get access, follow Roblox’s guidance to recover your password.
• Go to Account Settings. In the browser, select the gear icon located at the top-right corner. On mobile apps, the settings are in the three dots menu.
• Create your PIN. In the settings menu, select the “Parental Controls” tab, then toggle the button to turn on (and create) a PIN. 

3. Enable “Allowed Experiences” controls to block chat and other features 

Parents can configure “Allowed Experiences” in Roblox to manage the type of content their children can access. For example, you can add account restrictions on specific games, apps, and movies according to your children’s ages.

How to set Allowed Experiences in Roblox:

• Open the settings in Roblox. Log in to your account and head to your Settings menu. You may have to enter your PIN at this point to change settings. 
• Edit the Allowed Experiences. In the Settings menu, select “Parental Controls” > “Allowed Experiences.” Then, you can select the highest level of experience that the chosen account can join. Once you confirm your choice, a green message will display stating, "Saved Successfully!"

💡 Related: Is Discord Safe For Kids? Here’s What Parents Need To Know →

4. Learn how to check what your kids are doing on Roblox

Roblox filters the chat features to protect kids aged 12 and younger from inappropriate content and hides their personally identifiable information (PII) on the site. But gamers aged 13 and older can say or type more words and phrases in the chat feature. Regardless of their age, it's good to stay vigilant about their game use.

How to review your kids’ activities on Roblox:

• View game history. Log in to the account to review your kids’ activities, including their Friends and Followers, virtual item purchases, and the experiences they play and create.
• Block any users that harass your child. If you discover someone bullying or spamming your kid, it's best to block the perpetrator. Roblox's website provides instructions on How to Block Another User.

💡 Related: How To See What Your Kids Are Doing Online →

5. Protect your child’s account with a strong password and 2FA

Young children don’t tend to create strong passwords — and many reuse them across multiple online accounts. Sometimes, they share their login information with friends. These practices can leave your family’s data and devices vulnerable to account takeovers and identity theft. But when you create strong, unique passwords and add two-factor authentication (2FA), it’s far more difficult for someone to take over an account.

How to add a strong password and 2FA in Roblox:

• Open the “Change Password” option in Account Settings. When logged in to your Roblox account, go to “Account Settings” > “Account Info” > “Change Password.” The icon looks like a pencil and paper.
• Create a new password. Make sure to create a long, unique combination of upper and lower case characters, symbols, and letters. 
• Enable 2FA. How you enable 2FA will vary depending on whether you want to use an authenticator app, email address, or security key. You can get setup instructions for all 2FA methods on Roblox’s help pages.

💡 Related: How To Remember Passwords (and Secure Your Accounts) →

6. Teach your kids not to give out personal information

Every year, close to a million American children fall prey to child identity theft [*]. Fraudsters contact kids directly on Roblox through the private chat functions and try to trick them into giving up sensitive information. You can help your child stay safe by educating them on the dangers.

How to protect personal information on Roblox:

• Set up the accounts yourself. As identity theft is not something that kids typically think about, it's best if you ensure that their privacy settings are secure before giving them access.
• Connect Roblox accounts to your email. With this integration, you can get notifications about account activity — including messages, item trades, and any changes to the settings or password. 
• Select “friends” on the contact settings. This setting will prevent strangers from sending messages to your kid’s account or making friend requests. You can even select “no one” to block all contact.

💡 Related: Is Fortnite Safe For Kids? What Parents Need To Know →

7. Monitor the voice chat feature

Roblox has a proximity-based voice chat feature that mimics realistic communication during gameplay. But this spatial voice chat feature is something that parents must monitor to keep kids safe on Roblox. Simply by walking around the game, children could overhear obscene language or stumble into conversations with predators or bullies. 

How to monitor voice chat in Roblox:

• Review settings. As the account owner, you can limit or disable who can chat with your kids. You can also decide who can send messages to your children or invite them to private servers.
• Insist on gaming in communal areas. Many kids — especially teenagers — will want to game in their room. You can monitor their voice chats by ensuring the console remains in the living room or kitchen.
• Ban headphone use. With a “no headphones on Roblox” rule,  you’ll know if your child is exposed to risky conversations, abusive language, or racist statements. 

💡 Related: Don’t Fall For These 7 Nasty Snapchat Scams →

8. Show your kids how to report inappropriate messages or abuse

When “Sarah” began receiving sexually explicit messages from a 24-year-old Roblox user, she didn’t know how to handle the situation. Years passed before she came to terms with the immorality of this behavior [*]. With guidance and support from parents, children can be better prepared if they encounter abuse while playing Roblox. 

How to report abuse in Roblox:

• Show your children how to report inappropriate behavior. Under the description for each game, there is a link to “Report Abuse” — which makes it easy to file a complaint for any specific game. You can find the link by tapping on the three dots menu near the game title. You can also report individual players for abusive language by clicking on their gamertags in the list of active users. 
• Talk openly about inappropriate language. Make sure your kids know that you’re here to help if they experience language that makes them feel uncomfortable.

💡 Related: Aura vs. Bark – How To Choose the Right Parental Control App For You →

9. Set time limits for mobile games

Like most popular games, Roblox is designed to keep people playing. But it’s essential to make sure your child has a balanced lifestyle that includes off-screen activities. Excessive gaming can lead to social problems and health issues — such as sleep disruption, anxiety, and mood swings.

How to set time limits in Roblox:

• Create a family media plan with time limits and rules. It’s important to set expectations for online gaming activity in your home. For example, you could stipulate that if your kids complete their homework and chores, they can unlock an additional 30 minutes on Roblox. Conversely, breaking the rules will result in losing game time.
• Encourage time away from the screen. You can help your children develop healthier lifestyles with regular screen breaks. Reward them with treats or praise when they spend time on other non-screen hobbies (like sports, art, and music).
• Use Parental Controls. There are no built-in time limitation settings in Roblox, but you can manage your child's screen time by using Aura parental controls.

10. Protect your devices with antivirus software and a VPN

A November 2022 report revealed that over 200,000 Roblox users had installed a corrupted Chrome browser extension — “SearchBlox” — in which hackers had built a backdoor allowing them to steal Roblox credentials and assets [*]. 

You can protect your family members and their devices with reliable antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN).

How to use antivirus software and VPN on Roblox:

• Install antivirus on all devices. With dedicated antivirus software, you can protect your devices against malware, spyware, and ransomware threats.
• Run regular scans. Sometimes, suspicious programs can infiltrate your devices, especially if kids click on spam links in emails or private messages. A weekly scan and audit of all devices will help you find and isolate suspicious programs.
• Use a VPN on every device. When they talk to strangers online, a VPN hides the IP address and location of any devices your children are using (i.e., their iPhones, tablets, or the family computer). This encryption helps keep your kids safe on Roblox.

11. Talk to your kids about what to do if they encounter adult content

Despite your best efforts to shield your kids from inappropriate content, there's always a chance they might stumble across a condo game, or end up in conversations with adult users. Consider preparing your children for what to do when they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. 

How to prepare your kids for dealing with adult content in Roblox:

• Insist on gaming in a shared space. As per your family media plan, gaming should take place in a communal area, like the living room. This setup enables you to supervise the games they play (and be easily available to help with any problems).
• Set a protocol. Other users may threaten your kids to stay quiet online. If you devise and role-play clear step-by-step systems with your kids, they will know what to do when specific situations arise online.
• Maintain an ongoing conversation about online safety. Rather than having a  one-off chat, keep open lines of communication around adult content so that your kids feel comfortable talking with you about anything gaming-related.

💡 Related: How To Set Up Parental Controls on TikTok →

12. Play with your kids to see how they use the platform

Instead of simply laying down the law, you can enjoy playing Roblox with your children. Building a close-knit gaming culture in your family can reduce the chances of your children becoming isolated if they face online gaming risks.

How to play Roblox with your kids:

• Create an account. You can play at the same time with your kids, but it also helps to explore the game alone. As you get familiar with various aspects and potential risks, you can modify your media plan and privacy settings.
• Watch your kids play Roblox. By sharing a genuine interest in their hobby, you can earn your children’s trust. Praise any good deeds they do in the game, and encourage respectful behavior.
• Model good behavior. As you encounter condo games, profanity, or suspicious chats while playing with your kids, you can show them how to handle the problem by offering a real-time demonstration. 

💡 Related: How To Control Internet Access at Home (and Block Sites) →

The Bottom Line: Help Your Kids Stay Safe While Playing Online

Roblox can provide a fun and innovative gaming experience. Unfortunately, however, it’s not always safe for children. 

While the platform is working hard to keep kids safe with filters and age restrictions, it’s not enough. As many older children and adults play the game, the chance of children being exposed to explicit content or risky strangers is ever-present.  

If your kids play Roblox, you need to take action to safeguard them online. Ongoing conversations about gaming risks — and consistent monitoring of privacy settings and voice chats — are a good start. For added protection and peace of mind, consider a digital security solution.

With Aura, you get:

• Family identity theft protection including alerts if someone steals your child's Social Security number (SSN) or exposes their (or your) personal information online. 
• Parental controls and Safe Gaming features including chat monitoring, as well as real-time alerts and analytics about your child’s gaming activity. 
• A VPN and antivirus software with military-grade encryption to protect your family against malware and hackers. 
• Dark Web monitoring to detect and warn you if your child's personal information is circulating on the Dark Web.
• Up to $5,000,000 in insurance coverage for eligible losses due to identity theft, such as stolen money, credit cards, and passports.
• White Glove Fraud Resolution Specialists that provide U.S.-based 24/7 support to help you navigate conversations with banks, creditors, and government agencies and assist you with the process of recovering from fraud.

Protect Your Family From Online Threats. Try Aura Free For 14 Days →