Parents should monitor children 24/7 on Roblox, says developer.

An independent game developer for the immensely popular online gaming platform Roblox has issued a stark warning to parents, stating that the platform’s child safety measures, including its age verification checks, are insufficient. The developer, who requested anonymity and goes by the pseudonym "Sam," believes parents must supervise their children "24/7" while they are using Roblox. He emphatically declared, "if that’s not possible, then they shouldn’t be playing Roblox." This urgent advice comes in the wake of Roblox’s continued prominence as the preferred gaming environment for children aged eight to 12 in the UK.

Roblox, a global phenomenon, averaged over 80 million daily players in 2024, with a significant proportion, approximately 40%, being under the age of 13. "Sam," who earns a living through content creation on the platform and also volunteers with a non-profit online safety organization, came forward to the BBC after hearing an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast with Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer. In that interview, Kaufman detailed the platform’s extensive safety protocols, including mandatory age verification checks introduced in January 2026 for all UK users. However, Sam’s firsthand experience as an independent developer and safety monitor paints a different, more concerning picture.

"Sam" claims that the reality of safety on Roblox is far from what Mr. Kaufman portrayed. Roblox operates as a vast, open-world platform where users can both create and play games developed by others. Players can interact with each other in these virtual environments. Game creators are required to provide descriptions and assign content maturity labels, intended to guide players towards age-appropriate experiences. The platform offers various avenues for monetization, allowing creators to earn income through advertising, in-game purchases, or by charging for access to their games. Furthermore, some developers are part of Roblox’s creator program, receiving direct payments from the company based on user engagement and audience growth.

Despite these features, critics have raised significant concerns about Roblox’s ability to adequately protect its young user base. Allegations suggest the platform can be a target for online predators, and that children may be exposed to harmful or violent content through the games created by users. "Sam" has personally witnessed the darker side of the platform. He stated, "I’ve seen people on this platform be lured into engaging in ways that they shouldn’t with complete strangers." In his capacity as a safety monitor, he has also encountered reports of users attempting to move conversations off-platform to evade detection, a practice that Roblox officially prohibits.

The developer shared deeply disturbing examples of the content he has encountered. He has seen games depicting the Sandy Hook and Columbine mass shootings, where the objective was to shoot as many virtual victims as possible. He also reported the existence of "remakes of Epstein Island on Roblox." When concerns about such content are flagged through the platform’s reporting system, "Sam" estimates that only about 30% of these flagged issues are actually accepted and acted upon by Roblox.

When asked for advice for parents whose children are new to the world of gaming and considering Roblox, "Sam’s" response was unequivocal: "When playing Roblox, children need to be monitored 24/7. And if that’s not possible, then they shouldn’t be playing Roblox." He also emphasized the importance of parental intuition, advising, "My first message would be, if you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox." He acknowledged that this might sound counter-intuitive but stressed, "I would always trust parents to make their own decisions."

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for Roblox reiterated that "safety is a top priority, and we have advanced safeguards and filters designed to prevent harmful content and communications on our platform to keep all our users safe." The company stated that it takes "swift action against those found to be breaking our rules." Roblox highlighted its age verification process, certified by independent experts, which aims to limit children’s chat interactions to users of similar ages by default. The platform also continuously monitors user behavior, prompting users for re-verification if their actions appear inconsistent with their checked age.

This is not the first time Roblox has faced scrutiny regarding the safety of its young players. The platform has implemented global mandatory age verification and made other safety enhancements, such as preventing children from chatting with adults. In parallel, the UK government is actively exploring measures to enhance online safety for young people. This includes potential bans on children using social media, as well as the consideration of app time limits and curfews. The scope of any potential UK social media ban remains unclear, and it is not yet determined whether Roblox would fall under such restrictions.

The scale of Roblox’s user base, particularly its young demographic, underscores the critical importance of robust safety measures. While the platform asserts its commitment to safeguarding its users, the concerns raised by an independent developer like "Sam" highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring a truly secure online environment for children. The developer’s extreme recommendation of 24/7 monitoring reflects a deep-seated concern about the potential risks that may not be fully mitigated by current platform policies and enforcement. Parents are left to weigh the benefits of engagement on popular platforms like Roblox against the potential for exposure to inappropriate content and interactions, making informed decisions about their children’s digital lives. The ongoing debate and government consultations signal a broader societal effort to address the complex issues surrounding child safety in the digital age, with platforms like Roblox at the forefront of these discussions.

Additional reporting by Kate Berry and Evan Osman.