In an effort to regain its reputation, Roblox has just announced a series of reforms. Telia reveals the most important changes coming to Roblox that will probably 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 about it, but it should protect them from possible psychological trauma,” 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 multiply in various countries when children who played Roblox suddenly needed the help of a psychologist.
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 fulfilled 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 people.
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 13-year-old-eligible. 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 the little ones that games and their plug-ins must be downloaded only 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 specific measures is Roblox implementing to enhance the safety of younger players in light of recent incidents?
**Interview with Julija Markeliūnė, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Telia**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Julija. Roblox has announced a series of reforms aimed at protecting its younger players. Can you summarize the key changes that are being implemented?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Absolutely. Roblox is shifting its policies significantly to enhance the safety of its younger players. Starting November 18, players under 13 will lose access to social spaces where they could communicate freely with others. This measure addresses concerns about child safety and limits opportunities for abusers to reach vulnerable users. Furthermore, from December 3, all games will need to specify if they are appropriate for users under 13, and if not, will be automatically restricted.
**Editor:** Those changes seem essential considering the alarming reports of bullying and exploitation within the platform. What are some of the incidents that have prompted these reforms?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Unfortunately, there are many disturbing cases. We’ve seen reports, particularly in the UK, of children being approached with offers for inappropriate exchanges, such as sharing intimate photos in return for in-game currency. Other cases involve children feeling psychologically threatened due to hate speech and aggressive messages. The spike in complaints to children’s helplines during the pandemic reveals just how pressing these issues are.
**Editor:** How do you think these reforms will impact the experience of young players on Roblox?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** While these changes are essential for the safety of minors, they may not be well-received by the children themselves. Losing social spaces and access to certain games will undoubtedly disappoint them. However, it’s a necessary trade-off to prevent potential psychological harm and protect them from predatory behavior.
**Editor:** There’s also a concern about financial risks for parents due to harmful software and in-game purchases. Can you elaborate on this issue?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Yes, we’re seeing an increasing number of incidents where children inadvertently download malicious versions of Roblox, leading to significant financial repercussions for their parents. This can happen through downloaded apps that promise enhanced gameplay but come with hidden costs, including exorbitant SMS charges. It’s crucial for parents to monitor their children’s activities closely, especially concerning where they’re downloading applications from.
**Editor:** With all these challenges, do you believe that Roblox is finally taking the necessary steps to prioritize player safety?
**Julija Markeliūnė:** It certainly appears that way. The previous lack of prompt action put them in a vulnerable spot regarding user trust. The reforms signal a serious commitment to improving the platform. However, this is just the beginning, and ongoing vigilance and adaptation will be required to ensure that children can enjoy gaming safely.
**Editor:** Thank you, Julija, for shedding light on these vital issues and the much-needed efforts toward ensuring a safer gaming environment for children.
**Julija Markeliūnė:** Thank you for having me. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the wellbeing of both children and parents in the gaming community.
