Experts Demand Action on Roblox Amid Child Safety Concerns

Following the release of a concerning report by Guardian Australia, there is an increasing demand for the federal government to take action regarding the potential dangers children face on the widely-used gaming platform, Roblox. The report highlighted a disturbing week of online sexual harassment and violence encountered by a reporter posing as an eight-year-old girl.

Despite having parental control settings activated, the reporter experienced a range of alarming interactions, including receiving a sexualized avatar, being cyberbullied, violently killed within the game, sexually assaulted, and even subjected to degrading acts. These incidents raise serious questions about the platform's safety for young users.

As Australia prepares to implement a social media ban for users under 16, starting December 10, platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Kick will be restricted. However, Roblox has not been included in this ban, prompting widespread criticism.

Independent MP Monique Ryan has expressed confusion over this exclusion, stating it is “inexplicable.” She emphasized that online gaming platforms like Roblox expose children to unregulated environments where they might encounter gambling, social media-like interactions, and explicit content.

During a recent press conference, Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, addressed the criteria used to evaluate various platforms. She explained that the assessment focuses on the primary purpose of the service. “Kids who are using Roblox today, they use the chat functionality and messaging so that they can online gameplay,” she noted, suggesting that if the gameplay aspect were removed, the messaging feature would likely see reduced usage.

Inman Grant indicated that if Roblox starts implementing features that resemble those of social media companies rather than remaining strictly a gaming platform, the eSafety commission would take steps to include it under the ban. The existing government regulations define services designed primarily for online gaming as not being classified as age-restricted social media.

Some experts argue that this definition is too narrow, especially for platforms that integrate gaming with social interaction. Niusha Shafiabady, an associate professor of information technology at Australian Catholic University, strongly believes that Roblox should be included in the ban due to its capabilities for player-generated content and interaction. “It’s exactly like a contained social media platform,” she stated.

Another independent MP, Nicolette Boele, has urged the government to reassess its decision. She warned that leaving platforms like Roblox—often described in troubling terms as a “paedophile hellscape”—out of the ban fails to protect children and could inadvertently push them into more dangerous, less regulated online spaces.

A spokesperson for communications minister Anika Wells clarified that excluding Roblox from the teen social media ban does not imply that the platform is free from its responsibilities under the Online Safety Act. In response to growing concerns, the eSafety office noted that it has successfully negotiated important safety commitments with Roblox aimed at shielding children from various online threats, including grooming and sexual coercion.

By the end of the year, Roblox is set to introduce new age-assurance technologies. These measures will ensure that adults cannot contact children without explicit parental consent and that accounts for users under 16 will be private by default. These steps are part of an ongoing effort to enhance safety for young players on the platform.

The ongoing discussions surrounding Roblox and its implications for child safety underscore a critical issue in Australian politics and the broader gaming landscape. As the government moves forward with its social media restrictions, the push to include gaming platforms like Roblox in these regulations highlights the pressing need for comprehensive child protection measures across all digital spaces. The safety of children online must be prioritized, ensuring that they can engage with technology in a secure and regulated environment.