An independent game developer who creates content on Roblox says the platform’s child safety measures, including its age verification system, do not go far enough to protect young players.
The developer, identified only as “Sam” at his request, spoke exclusively to BBC Radio 5 Live after hearing Roblox’s chief safety officer Matt Kaufman discuss the platform’s safety features in a separate interview. Sam, who also volunteers with a non-profit online safety organisation, said what he has witnessed on the platform bears little resemblance to how Kaufman described it. “I’ve seen people on this platform be lured into engaging in ways that they shouldn’t with complete strangers,” he said. Sam added that he had seen reports of users being led off the platform entirely to continue conversations elsewhere, something he noted Roblox does not permit. “I have seen games where the goal is to shoot as many people as possible in the depicted version of Sandy Hook or Columbine,” he said. “I’ve seen remakes of Epstein Island on Roblox.”
Roblox is the most popular gaming platform among children aged eight to 12 in the United Kingdom, averaging more than 80 million global players per day in 2024, with roughly 40% of those users under the age of 13. The platform allows users to create and play games, interact with other players, and earn money through advertising or user engagement. A spokesperson said “safety is a top priority” and that the company has “advanced safeguards and filters designed to prevent harmful content and communications.”
Sam’s advice to parents was direct. “When playing Roblox, children need to be monitored 24/7,” he said. “And if that’s not possible, then they shouldn’t be playing Roblox.”
The platform rolled out mandatory age verification for UK users in January 2026 and has since expanded the requirement globally. Roblox said it also monitors user behaviour continuously and prompts users to re-verify if their actions do not match their registered age. Russia, Turkey, and Indonesia have banned the platform or restricted access for minors over child safety concerns, while Australia’s social media ban for under-16s does not currently include Roblox.
The UK government is consulting on broader measures to protect children online, including potential social media bans, app time limits, and curfews, though it has not confirmed which platforms would fall under any new restrictions.
