The CEO of Roblox has addressed parents’ concerns regarding inappropriate content within the app, stating that if they have worries, they should not allow their children to use it.
Roblox is among the most popular apps for children on the iPhone, regularly appearing in the top 10 free applications and reportedly used by about half of American kids under 16. The platform enables children to design their own mini-games.
However, recent reports indicate an increase in instances where children have encountered explicit or harmful material, as well as adults using the platform to attempt contact with minors, according to BBC News.
The app, which holds the title of the most popular among young gamers aged eight to 12 in the UK, has faced ongoing claims regarding children being subjected to explicit or harmful content, alongside numerous allegations of bullying and grooming.
CEO Dave Baszucki asserts that the company strives to identify and eliminate harmful content but emphasizes that parents should take the lead in decisions regarding their children’s app usage.
When asked for advice to parents who are hesitant to let their kids use the platform, Mr. Baszucki remarked: “My primary message would be, if you feel uneasy, don’t allow your children on Roblox.”
Nonetheless, parent organizations argue that such advice is more challenging to implement.
Justine Roberts, head of Mumsnet, shared that forum discussions indicate many parents have difficulty managing their children’s Roblox use […]
“If you have several children and things occur, you likely cannot monitor their activities around the clock, even with all parental controls activated.”
Ellie Gibson from the Scummy Mummies podcast remarked that Mr. Baszucki’s statement might come off as “a bit of a cop-out,” adding that “it’s significantly more complicated to execute, especially when all of their friends are playing.”
In 2022, it was revealed that a senior executive from Apple expressed astonishment regarding Roblox’s presence in the App Store.
In a 2017 email, Trystan Kosmynka, head of Apple marketing, stated he was “surprised” that “Roboblox” [sic] was permitted on the App Store. Epic Games revisited this issue in court, seeking to undermine confidence in Apple’s App Store review process.
Image: Roblox
