Roblox is one of the most popular online games among teens and kids, but some Englewood High School students are warning others about the dangers they’ve encountered on the platform.
“There are a variety of games, and you can play with your friends,” senior Dut Dut said about the wildly popular online game Roblox. Englewood High School students are speaking out about more than just the game; many are worried about the types of people they run into while playing the game.
Roblox History
Roblox was founded by David Baszubi and Erik Cassel in 2004. It was first called Dynablocks before being officially released to the public as Roblox in 2006. According to a YouTube channel hosted by the founders, today, Roblox hosts millions of user-created games and experiences you can play alone or with others.
Most of the players are under 16, including EHS junior Gail Sotelo, “I have been playing Roblox since I was younger, probably about 13.”
She likes that there are multiplayer games she plays with her friends, and it has expanded over the last few years. “Roblox has grown a lot,” Sotelo said. “There are big creators and influencers now and some weird stuff too.”
Student Concerns
Sotelo is talking about the many changes to Roblox that she says are not appropriate for most of its younger players, “the shower simulator is strange, and they have changed a bit of their terms and services where you can say profanities, and even online dating. The problem with that is people from all around the world play Roblox, and you have no idea how old that person is.”
The online site has increased the number of players ages 17-24 who, according to statistics on Roblox’s developer site, make up 21 percent of the player base. 51 percent are male, and 44 percent are female. Considering many of the players are ages 9-13, mixing these age groups is concerning to some. In July, Roblox began rolling out facial recognition and ID checks for users over 13, as part of its new age verification policy aimed at protecting younger players. Roblox says it’s doing quite a bit to protect users in the form of content moderation, AI, and strict community guidelines.
Playing with Risks
Other students shared similar concerns. TJ Stewart and Jared Woodard, both EHS seniors, acknowledge the game’s potential dangers, particularly for its young audience, but also note its fun aspects. “I wouldn’t say that it’s a huge problem. Some of the games on Roblox right now are inappropriate. It really does depend on the game. It’s not the safest place for kids. I feel like sometimes it is unsafe for younger players, but the majority of the time, it’s pretty fun.”
Woodard has reduced his time on the game as he grew older, “I haven’t played it as much as I used to when I was younger, but the more I got older, the more I realized a lot of the problems that they have. So I kind of distanced myself from it, but I still play it now and then.”
Finding a Balance
Both agree that while Roblox can be enjoyable, it’s important to recognize its potential risks, especially for younger players.
Sotelo said she was disappointed when Roblox banned a player who was actively catching predators on the platform. That incident was outlined in a recent article in Rolling Stone Magazine.
Sotelo wants Roblox to do more to protect the children playing the games, “I think that’s very scary. They’re not trying to protect like the children there. They’re only trying to make money. It’s becoming very harmful for young people, because there are a lot of young people there, and it’s exposing them to things that they shouldn’t be around.”
Her suggestion to stay safe on Roblox? “You just have to know not to play with random people. You can’t go out of your way and try to make friends with people you don’t know, because online is a very scary place, and you just have to stick to what you know.”
As Roblox continues to grow, students at Englewood High say it’s more important than ever for young players and their parents to understand the risks that come with logging in. If you still have questions or concerns, click on the link for Roblox safety.
