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 from November 18. 13 years old to remove the ability of underage players to use “social spaces” where different users could text and 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. Starting December 3rd this year, Roblox game developers will be required to indicate whether their work is suitable for players under the age of 13. Failure to do so will automatically block the game for 12 and under community members. 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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What inspired Roblox to prioritize diversity and inclusion in its recent reforms aimed at protecting young users?
**Interview with Julija Markeliūnė, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Telia**
*Editor:* Thank you for joining us today, Julija. Roblox has been in the news recently for its decision to implement a series of reforms aimed at protecting its younger audience. What prompted these changes now?
*Julija Markeliūnė:* Thank you for having me. The need for these reforms has been long overdue. Roblox has a unique player base, with over half being minors. This made it susceptible to various forms of exploitation, including bullying and blackmail. The increase in troubling incidents, especially during the pandemic, highlighted how critical these reforms have become.
*Editor:* Can you elaborate on some of the key changes that Roblox is making?
*Julija Markeliūnė:* Certainly. One of the most significant changes is the restriction of social spaces for players under 13. This will help limit interactions with potential abusers. Additionally, starting December 3rd, game developers will be required to mark games as suitable for players under 13. This is crucial as it will protect younger players from exposure to inappropriate content.
*Editor:* You mentioned disturbing incidents involving children, including reports of blackmail and exposure to hate speech. How do you see these changes addressing those issues?
*Julija Markeliūnė:* By enhancing moderation and restricting communication avenues, we aim to create a safer environment for young players. The new requirements for game developers to classify their games will also play a significant role in ensuring that children are not exposed to harmful content. Ultimately, the focus is on safeguarding the psychological well-being of minors on the platform.
*Editor:* Some of these changes, particularly banning social interaction and limiting game access, may upset young users. How does Roblox plan to address their discontent?
*Julija Markeliūnė:* It’s important to communicate that these decisions, while initially disappointing for children, are being made with their safety as the priority. Roblox holds tremendous creative potential, but we have to balance that with protecting users from harmful interactions. Education about the risks they could face online is also essential.
*Editor:* There have also been concerns about financial risks, such as accidental exposure to malware that could lead to unexpected costs for parents. How might these reforms help mitigate those issues?
*Julija Markeliūnė:* By removing features that allow unmoderated content sharing, such as the freeform 2D content, we reduce the chances of children interacting with malicious content that could lead to financial exploitation. Educating both children and parents on safe gaming practices is also a vital part of mitigating these risks.
*Editor:* Thank you, Julija, for shedding light on these important changes. It’s reassuring to see steps being taken to protect younger users and create a safer gaming environment.
*Julija Markeliūnė:* Thank you! It’s crucial for us to keep listening to concerns and adapting as necessary. Together, we can make Roblox a more secure platform for everyone.
