An independent Roblox game developer has voiced serious concerns, claiming that the platform’s child safety measures, including crucial age verification checks, remain inadequate.
Roblox stands as the most popular gaming platform in the United Kingdom for children aged eight to 12, making these allegations particularly pertinent.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, the developer—whose identity was protected by the BBC at their request—issued a stark warning to parents. They asserted that children playing Roblox require constant monitoring, stating, “Parents need to supervise their children playing Roblox 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The developer added a sobering caveat: “If that’s not possible, then children should not be playing Roblox at all.”
A Roblox spokesperson swiftly responded to these claims, emphasizing that “safety is a top priority.”
The spokesperson highlighted the platform’s commitment, stating, “And we have advanced protections and filters designed to prevent harmful content and communication on our platform to keep all users safe.”
The scale of Roblox’s reach underscores the importance of these safety discussions. In 2024, the platform recorded an average of over 80 million daily global players, with approximately 40% of them being under the age of 13.
The developer, who uses the pseudonym “Sam,” reached out to the BBC after listening to a 5 Live Breakfast program that featured an interview with Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Head of Safety. During the interview, Kaufman detailed a range of safety checks implemented by Roblox, including a mandatory age verification system slated for all UK users by January 2026.
Sam is not an official Roblox employee but operates as an independent developer, generating income from content creation within the Roblox ecosystem. Furthermore, Sam volunteers with an online safety non-profit organization, lending additional credibility to their perspectives.
Sam unequivocally stated that their firsthand experience reveals a stark contrast between the actual safety conditions on Roblox and the picture painted by Kaufman.
Harmful and Violent Content Allegations
Roblox functions as a dynamic platform where users can either create their own games or engage with games built by other creators. Designed as an open-world environment, it facilitates extensive interaction among players.
Each creator is obligated to provide a game description and an age restriction label for their content, which helps in categorizing games for appropriate age groups.
Players have the opportunity to create games and monetize them through advertising or by charging other users to play. Some creators are also part of official Roblox creator programs, receiving direct payments from Roblox based on user engagement levels or their success in attracting new audiences.
Critics of the platform contend that Roblox should intensify its efforts to safeguard its millions of young players. There are even accusations that Roblox has become a target for online predators and groomers. Moreover, some parties claim that children are being exposed to dangerous or violent content through the types of games available on the platform.
Sam revealed, “I’ve seen people on the platform being lured into inappropriate interactions with strangers.”
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In their capacity as a safety monitor, Sam further disclosed seeing reports of “people luring users off the platform” to continue conversations—a practice explicitly “not permitted by Roblox.”
Disturbingly, Sam added, “I have also seen games whose purpose is to shoot as many people as possible in simulated versions of the Sandy Hook or Columbine tragedies. I even saw reconstructions of ‘Epstein Island’ on Roblox.”
Sam mentioned that these grave concerns were reported through the official complaint forms, but lamented that “perhaps only about 30% are actually followed up on.”
When asked for advice for parents whose children are new to gaming and considering Roblox, Sam reiterated their earlier caution: “When playing Roblox, children need to be supervised 24/7. If that’s not possible, then they [children] should not play Roblox.”
In a statement to the BBC, Roblox affirmed that they take “swift action against anyone found to be violating the rules.” They also highlighted their age verification process, which is certified by independent experts, ensuring that children are automatically restricted to chatting only with users of the same age.
“We also continuously monitor user behavior. If we detect signs that their actions do not align with their verified age, we will prompt that user to re-verify their age,” Roblox added, underscoring their proactive approach to maintaining a secure environment.
Global Restrictions and Bans
This is not the first instance of Roblox being challenged regarding its online safety protections for child players.
In March 2025, Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki told BBC News that the company was making significant efforts to ensure children’s safety. However, he also urged parents to trust their own instincts.
“My main message is, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t let your kids play on Roblox,” he stated. “This might sound a bit counter to our business interests, but I will always trust parents to make their own decisions.”
Since that interview, the platform has rolled out mandatory global age verification and implemented crucial security enhancements, including blocking children’s access to chat with adults.
Countries such as Russia and Turkey have taken the drastic step of completely blocking Roblox, citing child safety concerns. Indonesia also added Roblox to its list of platforms banned for users under 16, a regulation that came into effect on March 28.
Interestingly, Australia’s ban on social media for users under 16 does not encompass Roblox, although some activists in the country have vehemently called for the platform to be included in such prohibitions.
The UK government is actively consulting on a potential ban on social media use for children, alongside exploring other comprehensive measures to bolster online safety for young people, which include screen time restrictions and digital curfews. A pilot program for potential new policies was announced this past Wednesday.
It remains unclear whether Roblox will be impacted by a potential UK social media ban, as the government has yet to specify which platforms will fall within the scope of these restrictions.
Additional reporting by Kate Berry and Evan Osman.
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Summary
An independent Roblox game developer has raised serious concerns,