Why Roblox Is Raising Red Flags for Parents Everywhere

At 44, my journey with gaming started on my dad’s old ZX Spectrum. I can’t recall the first game I played, but the one that sticks in my mind is Horace Goes Skiing. That little console opened the door to a lifelong passion for gaming, and now, two decades into writing about games professionally, I find myself still learning new things. With kids of my own, it’s a treat to witness them discovering the joys of virtual worlds.

However, I’ve become increasingly aware of the darker side of gaming platforms, particularly Roblox. Initially, I kept my son off it, hoping to delay his exposure. But when he started buzzing about it, I gave in and installed it on my PlayStation, thinking it couldn’t be that bad. To be honest, I was shocked by what I found lurking beneath its playful surface.

My son, who’s just seven, has always loved his Nintendo Switch, diving into Mario and Minecraft. But lately, he couldn’t stop raving about Roblox and its games like Steal a Brainrot and 99 Nights in the Forest. It was all his friends were talking about, and soon he was begging to try it.

Thinking I was being a responsible parent, I made sure to max out all the safety features. He couldn’t chat with other players, privacy settings were tight, and content filters were enabled. Unfortunately, it became clear that these measures only scratch the surface of a much larger problem.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to give 99 Nights a shot. Sure, it had some creepy elements, but I realized my son was already familiar with the more intense stuff from his friends. So, we played together, and while he was having a blast chopping trees and battling creatures, I started noticing the monetization tactics.

Every time my son died in the game, an enticing pop-up offered a “self-revive” option for a hefty amount of Robux—Roblox’s in-game currency. Naturally, he had none. I explained why spending on such temporary perks was not the best idea. But the design is clearly aimed at enticing young players to dish out cash.

The game layers multiple currencies and pop-ups that push kids towards spending money, which is exploitative, to say the least. When I eventually gave him his pocket money, guess what he wanted to buy? Robux! He converted it into gems to unlock classes, and guess what? The one he wanted wasn’t available, leading him to impulsively buy something else. Sound familiar?

The sad reality is that Roblox seems to be built on these addictive monetization practices. A recent study revealed that many kids get suckered into spending their money on in-game features that don’t offer any real value. Children are practically being trained to view gameplay as a money-making machine, and the design is not an accident; it’s the platform’s core.

Concerns have even reached the Federal Trade Commission, with child safety organizations calling out Roblox for “unfair and deceptive practices.” They argue that these designs exploit children’s inability to understand complex systems, especially when it comes to impulse control. I’ve seen this in my own son’s behavior—he’s drawn in by flashy features and ends up making poor spending choices.

While Roblox claims it’s all about fun and connection, many players and parents see through that. The platform has adopted features that maximize engagement but at the cost of kids’ understanding, leading to situations where parents struggle to limit their children’s spending.

As one advocate rightly pointed out, “Parents are doing everything they can to protect their children on Roblox, but it’s not a fair fight.” The platform seems designed to exploit children’s developmental vulnerabilities and feed off their natural curiosity.

Roblox needs to rethink its approach or face regulatory scrutiny. It’s a platform that should be celebrating creativity and fun, not trapping kids in spending cycles that take away from their gaming joy. I want my son to enjoy this digital playground, but right now, it feels more like a minefield of traps and scams.

Video games should be a source of uncomplicated joy, not a land of confusion where kids are constantly asked to spend their money. As I reflect on my own gaming journey, I wish for my son to have those same simple joys—without the pressure to grow up too fast in a commercialized gaming environment. Roblox may need some serious regulations to protect the future of young gamers.