Roblox Security Flaw: Developer Urges 24-Hour Parental Supervision
The popular gaming platform Roblox is once again facing sharp criticism over child safety standards. An independent developer, using the pseudonym “Sam”, has expressed concerns that the current age verification system and content filters are far from sufficient to protect millions of underage players.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Sam, who also volunteers for an online safety organisation, issued a stark warning to parents.
“Children need to be supervised 24 hours a day while playing Roblox. If that’s not possible, then they shouldn’t play Roblox at all,” Sam stated firmly.
Roblox, which is highly popular among children aged 8 to 12, allows users to create their own games. However, Sam claims this freedom creates loopholes for violent content and dangerous interactions with strangers.
Sam says he has personally witnessed users being lured into communicating outside the platform, a practice strictly prohibited by Roblox. Even more shockingly, he has found games visualising mass shooting tragedies and replicas of controversial sites like the “Epstein Island”.
“I’ve seen people on this platform being enticed to interact with strangers in ways they shouldn’t,” he said. He added that from the reports of harmful content he submitted, only about 30% were effectively followed up by the system.
In response to the allegations, a Roblox spokesperson stated that safety is their top priority. The platform claims to have implemented advanced filters and mandatory age verification certified by independent experts, including policies to block conversations between children and adults.
“We continuously monitor user behaviour. If we detect signs that their actions do not match their verified age, we will require them to re-verify,” Roblox wrote in their statement.
Moreover, Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki previously echoed Sam’s sentiments regarding the role of parents.
“My first message is, if you feel uncomfortable, don’t let your children play on Roblox. I will always trust parents to make their own decisions,” Baszucki said in March 2025.
Concerns over Roblox have prompted firm actions in various countries. Russia and Turkey have fully blocked the platform. Meanwhile, Indonesia has also included Roblox in the list of platforms banned for users under 16 years old, effective from 28 March 2026.
In the UK, the government is conducting consultations on banning social media for children, as well as examining other measures such as app time limits and digital curfews that are being trialled this week. (BBC/Z-2)