SAN FRANCISCO, NOV 19 – Gaming platform Roblox announced yesterday enhanced security measures, including introducing remote parental controls and limiting communication features for users under 13.
Roblox is a popular online gaming and creation platform established in 2004, allowing users to play, create and share virtual experiences.
Kids using Roblox can choose from games and ‘experiences’ created by other users, as well as play with online users who can chat live.
Roblox attracts millions of users worldwide, especially among children and teenagers, but recent research and media reports say children are not adequately protected from scammers and malicious individuals on the site.
Report Bloomberg last year said at least 24 people had been arrested since 2018 for defrauding or kidnapping victims they met through the platform.
The report describes how anonymous accounts make it difficult to track down predators on the site and the moderator team is struggling with its growing popularity.
The new measures allow parents to monitor their children’s activity and screen time more closely from their own devices.
Users under 13 will no longer be able to access direct messages outside of the game and will be limited to public broadcast messages in the experience, according to the company. – AFP
