If you’re a parent, you’ve likely heard about Roblox from your kid. But what is it, and is it safe? This comprehensive Roblox parents guide explains how to use Roblox parental controls to make sure your child’s gaming experience is fun, secure, and age-appropriate.
Roblox is a wildly popular online gaming platform where users create and explore 3D worlds. With over 40 million games for users to choose from (yes, you read that number right), Roblox allows kids to roleplay, build worlds, socialize with friends, and even learn basic game design.
Roblox features open-ended play and the ability to interact with other players. Popular games allow users to do things like adopt and raise pets, work in a pizza parlor, and live in a fictional town.
Roblox uses a freemium model, meaning it’s free to download and play. But upgraded features, such as special avatar outfits and unique abilities inside games, come at a price.
In-game purchases and premium features are available by purchasing the platform’s virtual currency, Robux.
Pro tip: Check out our section below on Roblox parental controls to prevent your kid from racking up unauthorized charges.
I personally allow my 8-year-old to play Roblox, and it would seem I’m not alone, considering over half of users are under the age of 13. Roblox can be safe, with the right parental controls in place. Like most things online, it comes down to how it’s used.
With that said, the platform includes open-chat features and user-generated content, which may expose kids to:
Roblox has a number of safety protections, such as automatic chat filtering for younger users and age recommendations for all content on the platform. These age categories are all ages, 9+, and 13+. While there are no official age restrictions for using the platform, Common Sense Media rated Roblox as safe for ages 13 and up.
Despite the potential risks when playing Roblox, there are several big benefits. For one thing, the open-ended play and immersive worlds lend themselves very well to the way kids naturally play. Add to that the ability to design games and play online with friends, and it’s easy to see there’s plenty of wholesome value to be gained.
Given the benefits and the ability to customize the experience to fit the age and maturity of your child, Roblox is safe for kids with proper precautions.
Roblox features a robust suite of parental controls for children under age 13. In order to use them, you’ll need to create a Roblox account with parent privileges, and then link your account to your child’s.
Here’s an overview of the platform’s core parental control features:
| Parental control feature | What it does |
| Chat controls | Disable or limit who can chat with your child |
| Spending limits | Set monthly Robux purchasing caps |
| Notifications | Get notified when your child spends Robux |
| Screen time limits | Set daily playtime restrictions |
| Content maturity settings | Restrict access to games marked as “9+” or “13+” |
Because of the open-chat feature, user-generated content which could be unsuitable for children, and the existence of in-game purchases, we highly recommend parents take full advantage of these safety features.
The chat function and in-game purchases are two of the highest-priority settings to review. Roblox expanded its platform to encourage creators to make experiences for users ages 17+. Kids won’t be able to engage with these experiences, but a higher portion of adult users means that it’s a good idea to limit how your child can interact with people they don’t know.
Once your child turns 13, parents are no longer able to manage their privacy settings — which means you’ll need to take a more active role in explaining why those privacy settings matter. (You also won’t be able to manage their spending limits, which is a big deal if their account is linked to your credit card.)
While this isn’t ideal, it’s important to review basic online safety measures with them, including the importance of not sharing personal information online.
At BrightCanary, we always advise against a set-it-and-forget-it approach to your kid’s online activity. Keep an eye on their Roblox use and make it a point to regularly sit down with them to see what they’re playing. These regular check-ins will help you spot any problems that may sneak through the safeguards — and you get the bonus of some bonding time with your kiddo.
Even with parental controls, it’s important to stay involved. Here’s what you can do:
Roblox is a popular online gaming platform that offers many benefits to kids, from creativity to social bonding. Potential safety concerns can be effectively mitigated by taking advantage of parental controls, discussing safe use with your child, and practicing regular tech check-ins.
