Roblox is an online platform and game creation system where users can design, share, and play games developed by other users. Launched in 2006 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, Roblox has gained popularity over the years, especially among younger players.
Currently, Roblox says it has over 66 million daily active users worldwide, with children and teenagers comprising a significant portion of its audience.
Roblox's attraction lies in its versatility: A massive catalog of games and virtual worlds where users can customize their experiences and interact with others while learning the basics of coding and game design.
However, the platform's popularity has come with challenges. In recent years, a number of incidents have raised questions about its security and moderation, especially for its younger users.
Most recently, reports have surfaced from The National Desk and Pensacola News Journal concerning a Florida woman, 36-year-old Tara Alexis Sykes from Pensacola, Florida, who allegedly used Roblox to encourage a child to commit violent acts.
Sykes was accused of using Roblox to send messages to a 10-year-old, reportedly urging the child to harm a two-month-old infant.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Sykes allegedly instructed the child to drop the infant onto a tile floor and suggested other violent acts, including drowning and burning.
Fortunately, the infant survived, but Sykes now faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated child abuse. Sykes is due for arraignment on November 8.
While the case emphasizes risks associated with online platforms where unsupervised contact can occur, Roblox has introduced multiple child safety features to protect young players. These include chat filters to block inappropriate language, customizable parental controls, and age-based restrictions designed to limit certain types of interactions.
In light of the case in Florida and other safety-related incidents, many parents of Roblox players have shared their concerns, strategies, and views on navigating the digital landscape. Here, several mothers offer their insights.
Mariana Pimentel, Dallas, TX
A lot of parents think they can keep their children safe by simply removing them from games like Roblox, but when you don't allow a child to engage in things that interest them, you're leaving them in the dark about the real dangers of life. When the day comes that they have to navigate reality on their own, they're going to be empty.
It's important to be involved in your child's life, and if that means playing Roblox with them, then that should take priority over anything else. Personally, it's a boring game for an adult like me, but my boys really love it, so we make sure to talk about online safety often, and I monitor their interactions regularly. Their accounts are linked to emails that I have access to, and I also play with them often.
Naomi Galatas, Baton Rouge, LA
I allowed my daughter to play Roblox in 2020 during the COVID-19 stay at home era. At that time, she played Bloxburg and learned how to build homes and connect with her friends. It was like connecting with someone virtually simultaneously.
I learned then, as a parent, that the chat system was open to anyone in the game and that some players were much older than my daughter. After I saw my daughter receive chats from other players who used foul language, I turned the chat system off, and we took a break.
A few years passed, and I allowed her to play again with the chat option off, but in some games, there was still unmonitored communication. My daughter was chatting with someone in the game who was asking her very inappropriate questions. It was then that I took away the whole gaming system from her.
Now, I allow her limited play with restrictions and check in periodically. I'm still not a huge fan of Roblox, but I believe that with the right limits, it's safe. My advice for parents: set boundaries on Roblox or any other online game. Roblox allows anyone to create a game and be whoever they want, so parents need to set those age limitations, talk to their kids, and teach them how to be safe.
Rachel Brydon, Cardiff, UK
I have a nine year old who has never been allowed to play Roblox.
I don't want to introduce games into the home where I have to worry about or monitor his use of it. Having to buy additional items within the game is bad enough, but having to be worried about chat rooms and bullying or exploitation is a whole other level. I'm aware you can turn the chat off but very much feel that a game that is targeted at children should be safe for children to play. I'm happy with my decision to avoid it.
Karen Mostert, US
My daughter is nine now, and she's been playing Roblox for a few years. She doesn't have access to the in-game chat, and she only talks to her friends on Discord, where we approve who she interacts with. We talk about the dangers of strangers and monitor her conversations.
We're lucky enough to work from home, and my husband's a gamer and a programmer. We don't avoid difficult conversations about the dangers online. Instead, we try to teach our daughter how to navigate them. It's about being involved in their lives and interests.
English (US) ·