HIGHLIGHTS
- The Australian government plans to implement social media restriction to anyone below 16, which could include Roblox getting banned in the country.
- Roblox’s potential ban comes from concerens from parents about the platform’s age verification process, explicit content, chatting features, and children’s exposure to grooming.
- Despite speculations, no confirmation has come from the Australian government or Roblox about the ban. They have suggested ways to make the platform secure for children.
Roblox is an online game platform that allows users to create and publish their own games, which other users can then play on the platform.
The interface includes social interaction features among users through its chat setting. However, the excessive use of the platform has sparked debates about its ban.
In Australia, the implementation of the Roblox ban has come under the country’s policy to restrict 16s from social media.
Australian Government Discusses Roblox Ban
According to a report from Qustodio, Roblox was the most used gaming app for Australians between 4 and 18 in the last year.
The numbers indicated that the age group spent an average of 137 minutes using the platform for gaming, game development, and social interaction.
Moreover, the heavy usage among children has resulted in Roblox becoming the most-blocked app by parents in Australia and internationally.
Online chat features on Roblox concerned parents and sparked discussions about the platform being banned in Australia.
New research conducted of 400,000 households in the US, UK, France, Spain and Australia has shown that on average, children are playing online games via Roblox for 139 minutes a day.
— The Project (@theprojecttv) January 22, 2025
It comes as the Federal Government excluded games from the incoming under-16 social media ban. pic.twitter.com/U2SUyqDSYe
Similarly, inappropriate content in games and in-app spending among users were other factors that led to Roblox’s declining image in Australia.
Additionally, Roblox features over 40 million games as of 2024, and concerns arose that children can stay there forever as there are so many different things to do.
Meanwhile, Roblox’s team responded to the government that their platform is always upgrading to enhance safety measures. The measures ensure that parents have more control over their children’s viewing.
Roblox Getting Banned Comes Under Social Media Restrictions
The reports of Roblox getting banned in Australia came after the country’s rules regarding social media usage.
Further, recent studies suggested that Australian children most used TikTok. Initially, gaming platforms didn’t align with the law to ban those under 16 from social media.
The government has faced pressure from activism groups to include Roblox in the ban. The platform has allegedly exposed children to grooming and explicit content.
@realDonaldTrump @Australia please ban roblox jt's not safe for kids under 16. They have gambling and having boting issues and they have +18 things on roblox they broke the law first it was tucky now soon Australia I support the move.
— Stanley Sallee (@StanleySallee5) January 23, 2025
However, Roblox suggested securing age verification on the platform to reduce likely harm to children and young people.
Meanwhile, some parents added that social media, including Roblox, has the benefit of shaping children. They claimed that the platforms help children connect and talk with their friends.
Despite such discussions, neither Roblox nor the Australian government confirmed the news about the ban.
Regardless, many assume that Roblox will join social media apps like YouTube in facing restrictions set to take effect later in 2025.
