Child safety experts call for Roblox to be included in Australia’s social media age ban over grooming fears

MPs and experts are calling for the controversial online game Roblox to be included in Australia’s forthcoming social media age ban, warning that significant loopholes in the legislation could leave children vulnerable to online predators. Professor Lisa Given, an expert in information sciences with RMIT in Melbourne, says Roblox presents unique challenges despite being primarily marketed as a creative gaming platform. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Call for action as popular kids’ game remains haven for predators Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow “Roblox is really interesting. It’s a creative space. Very many children are on this platform because it allows them to really build new worlds, use their creativity to the best of their abilities,” Given said. The platform boasts over 380 million users worldwide, making it extremely popular across a range of ages. However, its social components have raised serious safety concerns. “The critical piece here is that many of these platforms also have a huge social component. So it becomes a really complex question of are they considered social media? Are they something different?” Given explained. ‘Many predators are active on these spaces’ Gaming platforms were exempted from the social media age ban legislation from the beginning, despite many featuring significant social interaction capabilities. Given highlighted particular concerns about predatory behaviour on the platform. “We know that Roblox in particular has had a lot of concerns around grooming. Many predators are active on these spaces because so many children are on the platforms.” The expert warned that parents may develop a false sense of security from the age ban legislation, which she described as sounding “simple on paper” but “very difficult to implement because of the nature of these platforms”. Roblox has announced plans to strengthen privacy controls and give parents more oversight of the platform, with changes to be implemented shortly. Given advised parents to stay actively involved in their children’s online activities. “The number one piece always is: know what your kids are doing. What are the platforms they’re engaging in? Ideally, parents should be working and playing with their kids on these platforms.” She recommended parents utilise resources from the eSafety Commissioner’s Office, which provides toolkits and guidance on combating online harm and understanding how digital technologies function.