Is Roblox Safe for Kids? A Parent’s Guide to the World’s Most Popular Kids’ Game

Have your kids been begging to play Roblox? Welcome to the club! Parenting today includes managing kids’ video games usage, and Roblox is one of the most popular.

Roblox is a gaming experience where kids can play with friends and peers. Its  innocent, Lego-like animation and fast rise to popularity have left many parents unaware of Roblox’s hidden dangers.

We are here to walk you through the dangers and how to keep your kids safer on Roblox. 

What is Roblox?

Roblox’s mission is to “bring the world together through play,” but Roblox itself isn’t a game so much as it is a platform for games. 

When a child signs on to Roblox, they enter a virtual space that hosts more than 11 million games called “experiences.”

All these experiences are created by players — not by Roblox itself. There are obstacle courses (“obbys”), flight simulators, bowling alleys, schools, waterparks, and racetracks. Experiences can be as diverse as delivering pizzas, raising a pet, chopping down trees – or even playing dress up.

Users logged over 73.5 billion hours on Roblox in 2024 alone.

There are no limits to the imaginative creations found on Roblox. But children do more than play games. They can also build their own experiences.

Aside from being a fun and creative exercise, developing unique worlds teaches them the basics of programming.

Is Roblox Safe for Kids Ages 4 – 11 Years Old?

No, but the dangers vary. Roblox poses risks to kids because of explicit content and chatting capabilities with strangers. But with parental controls limiting access, is Roblox safe for kids in this age group? It’s a fair question considering there are some pros to this type of platform.

Research suggests that creative, world-building games like Minecraft and Roblox can benefit school-age children by improving problem-solving, coordination, and even basic programming skills. However, studies also warn that excessive video gaming at a young age can lead to poor social skills, aggression, and lower grades.

You know your child better than anyone so here’s a breakdown by age group to help you decide:

• Ages 4-6: Young kids should not play Roblox alone. The game is too complex, and they cannot recognize risks. Parental supervision is a must.
• Ages 7-8: Many parents specifically ask: “Is Roblox safe for 7-year-olds?” At this age, kids become more independent but still struggle with recognizing online risks. While Roblox’s parental controls can make it safer, we don’t recommend letting a 7-year-old play unsupervised. Instead, parents could:
  • Use “Account Restrictions” to block inappropriate content.
  • Turn off chat entirely (or restrict to known friends).
  • Play with your child! This is the best way to understand what they’re experiencing and guide them in safe online habits.
• Ages 9-11: Older kids may want more independence, but parents should monitor their activity and conversations. The safest approach is keeping chat off or limiting it to real-life friends.

Ultimately, whether Roblox is safe for your child depends on their maturity level, online awareness, and how involved parents are in their digital experiences.

Roblox Age Rating

According to the ESRB, Roblox’s age rating is T for Teen, meaning Roblox is generally suitable for teens age 13 and older. Roblox’s original age rating was 10+, however the wide range of games and experiences available for kids required reconsideration of the age rating. 

These experiences vary wildly, from age-appropriate obstacle courses, to sexually explicit strip clubs.

Is Roblox Dangerous For Kids?

According to the ESRB, Roblox is rated T for Teen (alongside games like Fortnite) meaning it is recommended for players aged 13 and up. Roblox originally held an age rating of 10+, but as the platform expanded, concerns over user-generated content prompted a re-evaluation. These experiences vary wildly, from kid-friendly obstacle courses, to sexually explicit strip clubs.

Additionally, Roblox offers Content Maturity Settings, allowing parents to restrict access to experiences based on categories such as Minimal, Mild, Moderate, or Restricted.

Five Hidden Dangers of Roblox

1. Scams

“Robux” is the currency of Roblox. Robux can be used to buy clothing and accessories to make an avatar look cooler; in-game boosts to outdo other gamers; emotes to let characters do special actions; ads to promote personal games; or access to private servers to only play games with certain friends.

Sadly, some users have discovered ways to scam children out of their Robux. They may give kids the chance to double their Robux for a fee or offer them a discount on a clothing item. Scammers usually get their Robux while kids are left with nothing. 

Scam websites will also use bogus Robux offers as a way to get sensitive information from kids, such as passwords and addresses. Scammers will also send kids links to dangerous, virus-riddled websites.

The loss might seem innocent, but Robux is purchased with real money. Kids have to be taught to ignore deals offered by other players and to speak with their parents if anything feels fishy.

2. Online Predators

Wherever kids gather online, predators are sure to follow. Roblox, a platform overwhelmingly played by minors, is no exception. It’s important to understand that kids don’t want to connect with predators or even adults. They just want to connect with their peers on an online playground. 

Despite this fact, it isn’t hard to find stories of kids being groomed on the platform.

Predators troll popular places to target children, evaluating which players are the most vulnerable.

They approach kids through a direct message or even in a group chat, asking to be added as a friend.

Over 60% of the time, online predators meet their victims in the chat rooms of popular games and social media platforms.

After establishing trust, they invite the child to chat on third-party platforms like Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram, or encrypted messaging apps like Discord, Telegram, and Signal. Many of these platforms allow private, disappearing messages, making it harder for parents to monitor interactions. Some apps even have overlay features that make them appear as part of a game, increasing the risk of hidden communication.  These social media sites are more flexible than Roblox and allow users to send video, audio, or photos.

Despite Roblox’s safety and monitoring features, no platform can fully protect children from online predators. According to the FBI, reports of online child enticement increased by 300% from 2021 to 2023, with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children receiving nearly 36 million reports in 2023 alone. This alarming rise highlights the need for parents to stay vigilant about their child’s online interactions.

Children are safest when parents take a few precautions before they play. Teach kids not to chat with or accept friend requests from strangers.

It’s also important that they never accept invitations to connect on third-party platforms with people they meet online. 

Encourage open conversations about online interactions, and reassure your child that they won’t get in trouble for coming to you if something makes them uncomfortable. Predators often use shame and secrecy as weapons, so it’s essential to remind kids that they can always ask for help without fear of punishment.

Unless chat controls are set to “No one,” there is a group chat within every game that all players can use.

In November 2024, Roblox restricted private messaging for users under 13. Now, younger players can only communicate through public in-game chats, significantly reducing the risk of private interactions with strangers. Parents can still go a step further by completely turning off chat and linking their own account to their child’s to monitor conversations directly.

This is the best way to ensure that your child cannot be contacted by strangers. 

Parents who choose to allow chat can consider regularly reviewing their children’s chat and messaging history. Messages can’t be removed, so inappropriate communications won’t be deleted.

For additional resources, explore how to protect children from online predators and learn to recognize the signs of online grooming.

The more informed parents are, the better they can help keep their kids safe. Despite evolving legislation to protect kids from online predators, parents are still necessary factors in preventing contact with predators.

3. Inappropriate Content

While most content on Roblox is kid-friendly, parents have reported their kids finding sex rooms, strip clubs, and other sexually explicit experiences. In fact, multiple families are suing Roblox for falsely advertising that Roblox is safe for kids. 

There are also violent games with blood on the floor and walls, where the sole purpose is to kill other users. Some popular games, like Rainbow Friends, may seem innocent but include horror-based themes that could be too intense for younger kids. Other experiences make reference to drinking or using drugs.

Public chats can further be a source of inappropriate content. Users can say racist, hateful, or inappropriate things if they find ways around Roblox’s filters. 

Also note that game developers can include links to YouTube and other third-party sites in the description section of their games. These links could lead to unsuitable channels and sites.

“It is also important for parents to understand that no parental control system is perfect. On a platform like Roblox, with millions of users and the ability for anyone to create new games, there will always be some level of risk.”

Josh Nelson, Campaign Director for ParentsTogether

Because it is possible to find sexual, violent, or drug-related content on Roblox, it can be an unsafe place for kids to explore on their own. 

To protect kids, parents can set limits on where children play by only allowing them to play in common areas of the home.

Additionally, we can regularly review a list of the games kids have tried by selecting “Continue” on the Home screen.

“Account Restrictions” in the “Privacy” tab of “My Settings” can also be enabled. This will limit the games kids are allowed to play to those vetted by Roblox in accordance with criteria similar to ESRB’s guidelines for children ages 10+. 

The account restrictions will still allow children to see every Roblox game and read its description, but they won’t be able to play any games that are not on the designated list.

4. Cyberbullying & Toxic Chats

The Roblox chat function enables players to interact socially, but it also poses problems for young people.

Kids can be bullied for all sorts of things—the way their avatar looks, making mistakes in a game, or for no reason at all. Bullies can be a simple annoyance or they can be hurtful.

The only way to ensure that your child cannot be contacted by strangers is to completely turn off chat in Roblox.

Although the public and private chat filters block inappropriate words and replace them with hashtag symbols (#), users are finding ways around them. This can expose your child to profanity, racism, and hate speech. 

Additionally, bad actors have found ways to get around Roblox’s restrictions on posting websites within chats.

This could lead to children accessing inappropriate websites and servers outside Roblox.

The simplest way to protect children from these dangers is to limit who can chat with them or turn off chat completely.

5. Excessive screen time

Every parent understands this risk. Roblox is fun and designed to keep players on the platform.

We can put measures in place to ensure our children don’t spend too much time on the screen. Setting clear expectations and implementing a family media plan can help. 

How to Keep Kids Safer on Roblox

Any digital service that relies on user-generated content presents inherent risks for kids, and Roblox is no exception. 

Roblox has acknowledged these safety risks and is actively improving its moderation system. In recent updates, it has introduced:

• Stricter AI-powered moderation to flag and remove inappropriate content faster.
• A parent dashboard for reviewing chat logs and activity reports.
• Plans for an individual game rating system to classify experiences similar to movie or TV ratings.
• Updated Content Maturity settings that limit access to inappropriate games.
• Restrictions on private messaging for users under 13 to help prevent unwanted interactions.

While Roblox can present risks when unrestricted, it can be a safer environment when parents take advantage of its built-in safety features. 

Even with parental controls, Roblox is not recommended for children under the age of thirteen.

Enable “Account Restrictions” (Best for younger kids)

Blocks inappropriate games, ensuring only Roblox-approved content is accessible.This feature also turns off all chat and messaging services (the next step) automatically.

Go to: Settings > Privacy > Toggle “Account Restrictions” to On

Disable or Restrict Chat (Prevents contact with strangers) 

Stops kids from talking to strangers or sharing personal information.

Go to: Settings > Privacy > Communication > Set to “No One” or “Friends”

You can also select “Custom” to pick and choose which communication features your child will have access to. 

Just know that predators are devious and can find ways to contact kids, even if their chat is set to “Friends.”

Your child will be safest when chat is turned off completely.

Go to: “My Settings” > “Privacy”

Set a Parent PIN (Locks safety settings)

Prevents kids from changing parental controls without permission.

Go to: Settings > Parental Controls > Set a 4-digit PIN

Control Who Can Invite Your Child to Private Servers

Parents can restrict who invites their child to private servers (games requiring an invite) and who can see their gameplay activity and join them.

Go to: Settings > Parental Controls > Adjust “Who can invite me to private servers” and “Who can join me in experiences.”

Monitor Chat & Message History

Allows parents to see who their child has talked to and review past messages.

Note: Kids can archive messages but cannot delete them, ensuring visibility.

Go to: Home Screen > Click the chat icon (bottom right) or message icon (top of the screen).

Limit Spending on Robux (Avoids surprise purchases)

Prevents accidental spending by setting a Robux limit or disabling in-game purchases.

Go to: Settings > Billing > Monthly Spend Restrictions > Set a limit

Parents and children can also block other users as well as report inappropriate content, experiences, advertisements, or chat messages.

Roblox’s parental controls can significantly reduce risks, but active parental involvement is the best safeguard for kids.

Emerging Trends: AI and VR in Roblox

Roblox is evolving fast, and two of the biggest changes on the horizon are AI-powered tools and VR gameplay.

AI is making it easier than ever for players to build games, generate code, and create 3D worlds with just a few prompts. While this opens up creative possibilities, AI-generated content isn’t always reviewed before it goes live. That means new games could pop up faster than parents can keep track of.

At the same time, Roblox is expanding into Virtual Reality (VR), letting players step inside their favorite games with headsets like Meta Quest.

While this sounds exciting, VR makes in-game interactions feel more real, which can be overwhelming for younger kids. It also relies more on voice chat and real-time movement, making it harder to filter out inappropriate behavior.

If your child is playing in VR, it’s a good idea to disable VR mode if needed, limit voice chat, and make sure they have a safe space to move around.

Frequently Asked Questions About Roblox Safety

Is Roblox safe for 7-year-olds?

Many parents specifically ask, “Is Roblox safe for 7-year-olds?” At this age, children may want more independence but are still developing critical thinking skills to recognize online risks.

To make Roblox safer for a 7-year-old:

• Enable “Account Restrictions” to block inappropriate content.
• Turn off chat or restrict it to friends only.

Play together—co-playing is a great way to guide them.

Is Roblox Free?

Yes, Roblox is free to play, but many games include in-game purchases that require Robux, the platform’s virtual currency.

While kids can enjoy Roblox without spending money, some games encourage purchases for special items, upgrades, or game passes. Parents can limit or disable spending in the game’s settings:

• Go to: Settings > Billing > Monthly Spend Restrictions

*Set a limit or disable purchases entirely.

Can you turn off chat in Roblox?

Yes, Roblox allows parents to completely disable chat or restrict it to friends only.

To disable chat:

• Go to: Settings > Privacy > Communication

Select: “No one” (to disable) or “Friends” (to limit communication)

What does Account Restrictions do on Roblox?

 Turning on Account Restrictions does two things:

1. Blocks inappropriate games—Only Roblox-approved content will be accessible.
2. Disables chat and messaging—Kids won’t be able to talk to strangers.

To enable it: Go to: Settings > Privacy > Toggle “Account Restrictions” to ON.

Is Roblox safe for 11-year-olds?

At 11, kids may want more independence but still need boundaries to ensure their safety.

Best settings for 11-year-olds:

• Keep Account Restrictions ON (for safer game selections).
• Allow chat with real-life friends only (or disable it).

Monitor chat history & friend requests using Roblox’s built-in tools.

Can parents see their child’s Roblox chat history?

Yes. Parents can review past messages in their child’s account.

To check chat history:

• Click the chat icon (bottom right of the home screen).
• Click the message icon (top of the screen).

Note: Kids cannot delete messages, so parents can always review conversations.

What Parents Can Do

These features are still evolving, and so are the safety tools around them. The best way to stay ahead? Check in with your kids, keep an eye on what they’re playing, and adjust settings to match your comfort level.

To decide if you should let your kids play on Roblox, stay up-to-date on the game, understand its dangers, and use available parental controls.

Beyond this, it’s always a good idea to talk to kids about what they’re playing and join in the fun by playing with them. Parents can also arm their kids with safe tech that allows them to stay in touch with family and friends while avoiding dangerous pitfalls associated with technology. 

What did we miss? What do you think about Roblox? How has it affected your family? Let us know in the comments!