In an effort to regain its reputation, Roblox has just announced a series of reforms. Telia unveils the most important changes coming to Roblox that will likely appeal more to parents than their kids.
Roblox differs from other games in that more than half of its players are minors. For the above reason, this platform can attract people with evil intentions like a magnet. Unfortunately, in order to combat this, Roblox has had no choice but to restrict internal communication channels for its youngest players and deprive them of the ability to play some of the platform’s games. The little ones probably won’t be very happy because of it, but it should protect them from possible psychological traumas,” says Julija Markeliūnė, head of diversity and inclusion at Telia.
From bullying to blackmail
Roblox isn’t any one specific game. It is a game development tool that allows users to use their imagination, share it with other community members and even earn money from it. Although the platform has helped grow a number of professional game developers and attracted as many as 80 million regular users with its openness, player safety has not been a priority for Roblox for years. As a result, stories began to abound in various states when children who played Roblox suddenly needed psychological help.
Elementary school children who turn to specialists complain that they receive frightening messages about their home address, school or other private information that they supposedly know. They are also exposed to hate speech – insulting epithets and threats – while playing. Unsurprisingly, UK children’s helpline organizations Childline and the NSPCC have seen an almost five-fold increase in Roblox-related complaints since the pandemic.
“According to information provided in the UK, a ten-year-old claims to have received an offer to share intimate photos of himself in exchange for virtual in-game currency. Tempted by such a deal, the child was later blackmailed into sending more private shots, threatening to make the previously sent photos public. At that time, a girl of a similar age complained that she had experienced a decision to perform indecent acts in a game simulating the work of a pizzeria, for which she was again promised to be rewarded with virtual money. Finally, children in the “Roblox” environment are traumatized by constant deceptions, when it is offered to exchange various trophies, but the promise is not kept and the little one is left with nothing”, J. Markeliūnė mentions the disturbing stories.
Sadder for children, calmer for parents
Despite years of complaints about its juvenile-unfriendly policies and ineffectively moderated environment, Roblox has been slow to make the necessary decisions. And such passivity of developers did not go unpunished. Unsatisfied with the sexual content spread on the platform, the Turkish authorities made a strict decision in August this year to block access to the gaming platform in the country. It has become a cold shower for Roblox to take security more seriously.
These days, the company made a radical decision to remove the ability for players under the age of 13 to use “social spaces”, where different users could communicate with each other by voice. This should severely limit the ability of abusers to reach the youngest and most vulnerable individuals.
However, another change should upset the little ones the most. From December 3 of this year. Roblox game developers will be required to indicate whether their creation is eligible for 13. for players who have not reached If this is not done, the game will be automatically blocked for 12 years. and younger members of the community. Such a requirement is likely to cut young people off from a significant number of games they are currently playing successfully.
Freeform 2D content features will also be removed for starters in about a week. They allow you to draw or write in 2D format in the Roblox environment and share this content with other users without having to go through the moderator filter. This should protect babies from unacceptable images or symbols that could harm their psyche.
Roblox can grow your mobile account
Recently, there has been an increasing number of cases in Lithuania when children accidentally infect their parents’ phones with viruses that send malicious SMS messages while playing the popular Roblox game. Telia warns that such recklessness can lead to high costs for adults, and recovery of lost money is not possible in all cases.
“For many little ones, it’s more than just a game. They stubbornly strive for the best possible result and tend to use all possible means in this way. For this reason, it is easy to tempt them to download a modified version of the app, which supposedly will allow them to achieve a higher frame rate in the game, to use a fraudulent virtual game currency generator, or simply to purchase a game extension recommended by other players,” reveals J. Markeliūnė.
The biggest problem is that after downloading a game upgrade, young people, without thinking for a second, tend to meet all the conditions required by it. For modified Roblox apps or plug-ins, they give access to smart SMS messages and phone applications, collect the parents’ phone number and provide other identity data without going deep. This opens up a whole host of ways for fraudsters to profit.
“Viruses that have taken over a smartphone send hundreds or even thousands of messages in the background to high-rate foreign numbers. Since the latter are registered in third countries and are not included in the list of fixed fee subscriptions, a higher or lower fee is added to the user’s mobile communication account after each message, which eventually turns into a significant amount due to the large number of messages per month. “Unfortunately, the victim often learns about it only when it’s time to pay for mobile services, when it’s too late to take preventive measures,” states the Telia representative.
The only protection in this case could be nothing more than a reduction in the automatic mobile spending limit, which would prevent the bill from exceeding large amounts at the end of the month. If the predetermined monthly amount for mobile communication services is exceeded, the customer is informed about it and, if the advance is not paid, it is blocked preventively, preventing criminals from further profiting from his ignorance.
It should also be explained to children that games and their plug-ins must only be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play application stores, they should not click on unclear advertisements on web pages or on the same Roblox platform, and emphasize that phone numbers and other data cannot be displayed in the digital space without parental consent.
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How does Roblox plan to educate both young players and their parents about the risks associated with online gaming?
**Interview with Julija Markeliūnė, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Telia**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Julija. Roblox has announced some significant reforms aimed at improving player safety. What prompted these changes?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Thank you for having me. The changes were prompted by an alarming rise in incidents involving minors on the platform. Reports of bullying, blackmail, and inappropriate content have surged, particularly during the pandemic. As we know, over half of Roblox’s players are children, making it crucial for the platform to enhance its safety measures to protect them from potential harm.
**Editor:** Can you elaborate on some of the reforms that Roblox is implementing?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Certainly. One of the most significant changes is the restriction of internal communication channels for players under 13. This limits their ability to interact with others, which can help reduce the risk of predatory behavior. Additionally, starting December 3rd, game developers will have to indicate whether their game is suitable for players aged 13 and under. If they fail to do so, younger users will be automatically blocked from accessing those games.
**Editor:** That sounds like a tough decision for young gamers. Would you say these changes might alienate some of the younger audience?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Yes, it’s likely that some children will be disappointed, as these reforms may limit their access to certain games. However, the overarching goal is to prioritize their safety and mental well-being. It’s about striking a balance between providing a creative gaming platform and ensuring a secure environment for minors.
**Editor:** What about the issue of malicious software? We’ve heard that children can inadvertently compromise their parents’ devices while playing. How serious is this problem?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** This is a growing concern. Children are often unaware of the risks associated with downloading modified apps or interacting with unverified links. It can lead to their devices being infected with malware, resulting in hefty charges on their parents’ phone bills from hidden premium SMS services. Education and vigilance are crucial to safeguarding against these threats.
**Editor:** Do you believe Roblox’s response is sufficient to address these persistent problems?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** While these reforms are a step in the right direction, it’s clear that consistent monitoring and community feedback will be essential in shaping ongoing improvements. Roblox must remain proactive in addressing these issues, as the safety of its users – especially children – should always be a top priority.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Julija. It’s a complex situation, but it’s encouraging to see action being taken to protect young players.
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Thank you for having me. It’s imperative that we continue to advocate for child safety in all digital spaces as technology evolves.
