Roblox warned over ‘disturbing’ child grooming reports
Controversial gaming platform Roblox has attracted attention with persistent reports of predators targeting children with sexually explicit and suicidal material.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has requested an urgent meeting with the popular platform, two months after Australia’s worldwide social media ban came into force.
He is alarmed by allegations that young Roblox users are being exposed to graphic and unnecessary user-generated content.
“Even more disturbing are reports and concerns about children being approached and groomed by predators who actively seek to exploit their curiosity and innocence,” Ms. Wells said in a statement.
of Australia social media minimum age restrictions The law, which came into effect on December 10, requires digital platforms to verify the age of users and lock the accounts of those under 16.
Ten digital platforms were required to comply with the law, including Google’s YouTube, Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and Threads, as well as Snapchat, Reddit and TikTok.
Roblox, which is not mentioned under the law, revealed that 60 percent of its daily active users in Australia check the age.
The platform is described as not a single game, but a broad ecosystem of user-generated “experiences” hosted on it.
Prior to the ban, parents expressed concerns about harm done to Roblox, including sexually explicit and suicidal content shared in public chats.
Ms Wells said although Roblox had dealt “extensively” with eSafety over the past two years, the content remained.
“This is untenable and these issues are of deep concern to many Australian parents and carers,” he said.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said Roblox must take immediate action to prevent predators from accessing children following the “horrifying” reports.
Roblox told eSafety that it was honoring its commitments under the ban, including shutting down features such as direct chat and voice functions for Australian children.
Ms Inman Grant said the platform would be evaluated for its compatibility.
“We are extremely concerned by ongoing reports of children being exploited and exposed to harmful material on the Roblox service,” he said.
“They can and should do more to protect children and when we meet I will ask how they propose to do this.”
Platforms that refuse to comply with the social media ban will face fines of up to $49.5 million.
Ms Wells asked the internet watchdog what powers could be increased to combat harms done to Roblox as the government looks to legislate a digital duty of care.
The proposed legal obligation is separate from the social media ban and would apply to major online platforms to take proactive, reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm to users.
The rules, which focus on age-restricted material including pornography and self-harm, will come into force on March 9 and apply to Roblox, the commissioner said.
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