Roblox Placed Under Scrutiny Ahead of Under 16s Social Media Ban

Online gaming platform Roblox will be closely watched by regulators as Australia prepares to enforce its new under-16 social-media ban, Communications Minister Anika Wells has said.

While Roblox is not included in the ban taking effect on Dec. 10, Wells cautioned the platform remains “under scrutiny” as authorities monitor how young users respond once the ban begins.

“If we were to detect that people were swarming to Roblox and there was more harm being created, absolutely Roblox would be in the sights of the eSafety commissioner,” Wells said on Nov. 10.

She stressed that the government’s list of platforms is “fluid,” meaning new services may face regulatory action if risks escalate.

For now, the ban will cover Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, X, Kick and Reddit. Companies failing to comply with the new under-16 rules could face penalties of up to $49.5 million.

What Is Roblox?

Roblox is a popular online platform where users create and play millions of games designed by other players.

It includes virtual hangouts, interactive worlds, and social spaces where users can chat through text and voice.

Because of this social element, it attracts a large number of children and teenagers, making safety controls a frequent concern for parents and regulators.

The discussion in Australia comes just three days after Texas sued Roblox, accusing it of exposing children to predators and ignoring online-safety laws.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused the company of ignoring online-safety laws and misleading families about how safe the platform is for children.

The lawsuit claims Roblox has become a place where predators operate, exposing children to sexual content, exploitation and grooming.

Paxton said the company has prioritised profit over children’s safety and warned Roblox will face the “full force of the law” if it continues to allow harm.

Roblox Tightens Safety

In Australia, Roblox claims it is already responding to earlier warnings from the eSafety Commissioner over child-safety risks, including reports of grooming and inappropriate contact between adults and minors.

Following discussions with Australian regulators, the company has agreed to roll out stronger protections by the end of 2025.

Several new measures will tighten controls on interaction between adults and children.

Accounts belonging to users under 16 will be private by default. Chat features will be switched off until the child’s age is verified.

Even then, users under 16 will not be able to chat with adults, and voice chat between adults and 13- to 15-year-olds will be blocked.

Parents will gain new tools to disable chat entirely for users aged 13 to 15, adding to protections that already apply to younger children.

Growing Public Concern

Interest in online safety has surged since the government began an awareness campaign three weeks ago, ahead of the December ban.

More than 200,000 Australians have visited the nation’s official e-safety website since the launch of the education campaign, attracting almost 100,000 page views weekly, compared to fewer than 10,000 previously.

However, Shadow Communication Minister Melissa McIntosh claimed the ban was “set up to fail” as it lacks clarity on details, such as whether platforms could compel users to verify their age using digital identification.

“The details really matter, and the minister should be focused on those first and foremost,” she said.

AAP contributed to this article.