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 balance user creativity with the need for increased safety measures?
**Interview with Julija Markeliūnė, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Telia**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Julija. Roblox has made some significant changes recently that seem to prioritize child safety. Can you explain what prompted these reforms?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Thank you for having me. The reforms were largely driven by an urgent need to protect the vulnerable population that makes up a substantial portion of Roblox’s user base—specifically, minors. For years, there have been troubling reports of children encountering harassment, bullying, and even predatory behavior on the platform. The alarming rise in complaints received by organizations like Childline and the NSPCC made it clear that Roblox needed to act decisively.
**Interviewer:** It seems like many of the new measures may upset younger players. Could you elaborate on what changes will affect how children can use Roblox?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Absolutely. One of the most significant changes is that players under the age of 13 will no longer have access to “social spaces” where they could communicate with others via voice chat. This is a critical safety measure aimed at limiting the opportunities for abusers to reach younger individuals. Additionally, starting December 3, game developers will need to indicate the appropriate age for their games. If they fail to do so, the games will be blocked for players 12 and under. While this might restrict access for some kids, it’s vital for their protection.
**Interviewer:** You also mentioned changes related to game content. What can you tell us about that?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Another important reform is the removal of freeform 2D content features. These allowed players to draw or write in a 2D environment without moderator oversight. This aspect often led to the sharing of inappropriate images or symbols that could negatively impact young players. By eliminating this feature, we aim to create a safer and more welcoming environment.
**Interviewer:** There’s also concern about children inadvertently exposing their parents to cyber threats while playing. How does Roblox plan to address this?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Yes, that is an emerging issue that we can’t overlook. Roblox players are susceptible to downloading malicious apps and modifying the game, which can potentially harm their parents’ devices. These apps often request sensitive information and can lead to unexpected costs, especially if children unknowingly send premium messages. We’re emphasizing the importance of digital literacy and parental supervision to mitigate these risks.
**Interviewer:** While these changes could lead to a better environment for children, they also seem to indicate that Roblox is taking a step back from their original free-spirited concept. What is the long-term vision for Roblox?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Roblox has always been about creativity and community, but the safety of its users, particularly younger players, is paramount. The long-term vision is to strike a balance between fostering creativity and protecting minors. We believe these reforms will create a safer and healthier platform, allowing children to play and grow without the fear of harassment or exploitation. Ultimately, our hope is to regain the trust of parents and create a space where children can explore their imaginations safely.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Julija. It’s clear that while there are challenges ahead, these reforms could pave the way for a much safer gaming experience on Roblox.
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Thank you! It’s an important journey, and we’re committed to seeing it through.