While children immerse themselves in virtual worlds dazzled by their colors and games, the game (Roblox) hides a dark side that worries parents and experts; the platform, which gained fame from creativity and interaction, has turned in some views into a dangerous environment exploited by strangers for unsafe communication with children, prompting several countries to block it to protect their generations.

Professor of Software Engineering and Vice Dean of the College of Computer and Information Sciences at King Saud University, Dr. Faiz bin Hussein Al-Qahtani, told Okaz that (Roblox) is one of the most popular digital gaming platforms worldwide. It is not just a single game but an open platform that allows users to create their own virtual worlds, design multiple types of games, and share them with others. The platform launched in 2006 but has seen tremendous growth in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a primary destination for children and teenagers to spend time and interact with friends online.

Digital Currency for Purchases

Al-Qahtani added: “Roblox is based on user-generated content, where any player can design their own game using an internal programming engine within the platform, making it a fertile environment for creativity and learning programming and design skills.” This feature attracted millions of users worldwide. Additionally, Roblox has a virtual economic system based on a digital currency called (Robux), used to buy tools, clothes, cosmetic items for characters, or even access special games within the platform. This commercial aspect made Roblox a blend of entertainment and digital entrepreneurship, enabling some developers to earn millions by selling their virtual products inside the game. However, this great popularity also comes with challenges; while some see it as a useful educational and entertainment tool, others view it as an open field for several risks related to inappropriate content, exploitation, and cyberbullying.

Al-Qahtani pointed out that in recent years, Roblox has faced varied decisions from several countries regarding banning or restricting it, raising questions about the reasons behind this.

Unsafe Interactions with Strangers

The software engineering professor classifies the reasons into four main axes: digital safety and child protection, the most common reason for banning due to concerns about child exploitation.

For example, in one country, a decision was issued to ban the game in August 2025 following reports of children being exposed to unsafe interactions with strangers. In Turkey, the game was banned in 2024 after official statements confirmed that its content exposes children to potential sexual exploitation and blackmail and that it is culturally and religiously inappropriate. In China, the ban was announced due to some games containing violent elements or symbols incompatible with local values and traditions. In other countries, the game was temporarily banned for similar reasons before restrictions were lifted after content review.

Legal and economic concerns are also reasons; in Belgium and the Netherlands, the platform was not completely banned, but some internal games like (Adopt Me) and (Arsenal) were prohibited due to their use of loot box mechanisms considered a form of gambling banned for minors under local laws.

Parental Controls and Chat Filters

Al-Qahtani notes that although Roblox has developed parental control tools and chat filters, some users can bypass these systems, leaving the door open for children to access inappropriate content or communicate with strangers. This lack of protection has strengthened some countries’ conviction to intervene through bans or restrictions.

Al-Qahtani confirms that “decisions to ban or restrict Roblox reflect a part of social responsibility but do not eliminate the central role played by parents, as children will continue to be exposed to other games and digital platforms, necessitating balanced family awareness and monitoring strategies.”

Monitoring should not be just about blocking or banning but conscious follow-up of what children do inside the platform.

Parents can use Roblox’s parental control tools, such as disabling chat with strangers, setting playtime limits, monitoring purchase history, and even playing together with their children.

It is clear that educating children about the risks of the virtual world is as important as technical monitoring. Parents should teach their children basic rules such as not sharing personal information and how to deal with bullying or exploitation attempts. Instead of focusing only on negative aspects, children can be guided to use games as tools for learning and creativity, such as designing educational games or learning programming principles. Safer alternatives or educational digital platforms can also be provided.

Banning Is Not an Ideal Solution

Al-Qahtani called on teachers to play a complementary role by organizing workshops on digital safety awareness and encouraging students to openly discuss their experiences with digital games. This cooperation between home and school enhances protection comprehensively. In conclusion, Roblox represents a complex model combining technological and creative opportunities on one hand and social and security risks on the other; it is an environment that allows children to learn and innovate but can also be a field for exploitation and inappropriate content.

Banning decisions in several countries reflect awareness of these risks, but addressing challenges related to digital gaming platforms like Roblox should not be limited to banning as the sole solution. Alongside bans, it is important to develop regulatory and legislative frameworks that enhance technical monitoring and protect user privacy, in addition to community awareness and education programs targeting both children and parents. Finally, encouraging the production of local alternatives with educational and cultural dimensions contributes to balancing the investment in technological opportunities and preserving societal values, making dealing with this phenomenon closer to an integrated strategy that enhances benefits and reduces risks simultaneously.

Prevent Communication with Strangers

Professor of Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence and Secretary of the Scientific Council at King Abdulaziz University, Dr. Abdullah Al-Mulais, sees Roblox as a multiplayer game where players build virtual worlds and millions use it worldwide now, but it has many problems, such as children using it especially when communicating with strangers. He told Okaz: “This leads to dealing with unknown adults, and some may exploit this game for sexual exploitation of children. Among its risks are violence and habituating children to it, which harms them psychologically, in addition to distraction and lack of focus on their real surroundings.”

Disable Communication Feature

Technical expert Abdullah Al-Sabaa warned against Roblox, telling Okaz: Some players turned it into a place for harassment, “Therefore, parents must disable the communication or chat feature inside the game to protect children from any harmful communication.” This can be done by accessing account settings, such as (Settings) or (Privacy), then activating the option to block or restrict chat to (friends only) or (no one). It is also necessary to disable voice or private interactions and encourage children to report any suspicious behavior.