A New Escape Space Called Roblox
A similar experience comes from Ketty (20). Every day she can spend between four to five hours exploring various virtual worlds on Roblox, from fishing simulations to mountain climbing. Like Chia, she sometimes uses the platform simply as a way to accompany friends or just chat without focusing on completing any particular mission.
“Sometimes I play Roblox not always to chase missions. Sometimes it’s just to chat or keep a friend company. Through Roblox I’ve also made various friends from different regions,” Ketty said.
Nevertheless, Ketty still maintains boundaries between digital interactions and real-life relationships. She admits to being rather reserved and finds it difficult to place full trust in strangers she has just met in digital cyberspace.
“I don’t feel safe enough to form deeper friendships, and it’s really hard to trust new people. Even though closeness can sometimes be built through digital characters, for me, meeting in person still holds a value that can’t be replaced,” Ketty said.
Moreover, friendships in the real world, she said, still feel stronger and more comfortable compared to communication through avatars.
Chia and Ketty are not alone. According to Statista, as of the second quarter of 2025, there were more than 111.8 million daily active Roblox users worldwide, a 41 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year. The surge occurred because since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Roblox successfully positioned itself as an alternative digital meeting space. The platform became not only a place to play but also a social escape for millions of people who lost access to face-to-face interaction.
The report also highlighted the age demographics of Roblox users. While Roblox was previously often associated with being a children’s game, that perception is increasingly shifting. Data shows that as of the first quarter of 2025, approximately 61 million Roblox users were aged 13 and above, far exceeding the number of users below that age. The 17 to 24 age group has even become the fastest-growing segment, signaling the platform’s expansion from merely a children’s gaming arena to a cross-generational social space.
Amid the growing adult user population, Roblox has not been immune to various cases threatening vulnerable groups. Roblox’s massive popularity, initially dominated by children, attracted the attention of adult predators who exploit the platform to carry out grooming and sexual violence.
Such a case occurred in Indonesia. Several months ago, a man with the initials AMZ was arrested by the East Kalimantan Regional Police on suspicion of cybercrime against a 15-year-old girl from Sweden. AMZ exploited digital interaction spaces, including Roblox, to build emotional closeness before ultimately committing sexual extortion.
“During the arrest at his home, the suspect confessed to all of his actions. Officers seized a number of pieces of evidence from the suspect, including several social media accounts and electronic devices used to carry out his actions,” said East Kalimantan Regional Police Public Relations Chief Comr. Yuliyanto.