<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's one of the world's biggest phenomena among school-age children, and the online </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/esafety-testing-roblox-over-child-safety-social-media-ban/0412ca65-6e0c-4588-9a94-f40d96209136" rel="" target="" title="safety watchdog has just put it on notice"><span>safety watchdog has just put it on notice</span></a><span>. So what do parents need to know about Roblox?</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The online gaming platform was released in 2006 and has become a huge hit among under-16s in particular, comparable to global fads like Fortnite.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Roblox, people can create and share their own games, and play them with friends - or total strangers.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EPSTEIN FILES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-told-police-in-mid-2000s-everyone-has-known-about-epsteins-misconduct/bac5dfc1-d0d4-4c62-9504-86d8bc92e0b8" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump's bombshell claims about Epstein in mid-2000s revealed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is also a social media aspect to the platform, including a chat feature.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While Roblox is yet to be caught up in Australia's social media ban, it has put in place safety measures that are meant to prevent contact between adults on the platform and under-16s.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the eSafety Commissioner has now said those measures will be tested, amid growing concerns of child exploitation on the platform.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/roblox-what-is-it-how-to-keep-children-safe-online-gaming-platform/7a0c62a6-08bb-4ca5-b665-9429b644a3fe" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Communications Minister Anika Wells is also seeking a meeting with Roblox representatives, with her office confirming the company had agreed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/wa-man-jailed-over-evil-plan-to-kidnap-and-abuse-young-girl-inside-his-home/3cc73e83-c59f-4e9a-9411-ff783bb55726" target="_blank"><strong><span>WA man jailed after building 'panic room' to hide kidnapped girl</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What's the danger?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are fears that adult predators may be turning to sites like Roblox to target victims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leading digital researcher and futurist Dr Jo Orlando said parents needed to understand the gargantuan scale of the Roblox phenomenon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Millions of kids around the world are on this every day," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WATCH:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-pictures-of-suspect-released-fbi-us/bf45a55f-6e64-4d61-be29-83155b0f47d3" target="_blank"><strong><span>Chilling images of man on doorstep of US TV anchor's missing mum</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>OLYMPICS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/olympics/milano-cortina-2026-cam-bolton-neck-injury-misaki-vaughan-concussion-20260211-p5o17w.html" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie snowboarding star breaks neck in 'serious' training crash</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said there did appear to be an increase in the attention being paid to grooming and exploitation online, but that it had been an "ongoing problem" in the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The social media ban has had its own impact, concentrating young users onto fewer sites.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Groomers approach as friends. You know, they'll send a message saying 'hi, you seem cool'," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It doesn't seem like a threat to a kid, and that's step one for the groomers."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/celine-cremer-missing-backpacker-tasmania-search-recovers-car-key-bones-teeth/50f045c1-c7cf-4f14-97ae-f029ee3da945" target="_blank"><strong><span>Grisly discovery in search for missing backpacker in Tasmanian bush</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said Roblox's chat barricades between adults and children had been a good idea, but "on the ground" it simply wasn't working as intended.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Orlando said parents needed to be aware of what their children were doing and who they were speaking with online, especially on Roblox, due to the huge and sprawling nature of the concept.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Roblox is a bit of a free-for-all," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You need to know what's going on, you need to be more hands-on as a parent. You can't keep it in the background."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The simplest way for parents to check their children's safety was to read their messages after logging off, if they suspected something was wrong, Orlando said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Changes in behaviour, increased time on their device, secretive behaviour, and even risque talk could all indicate potential danger.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Orlando said the next step for any parent was simple - report the matter to police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are on it very quickly, they are great," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said that even if any messaging or behaviour had only changed recently, there may have been weeks or months of prior grooming leading up to it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Leading expert Professor Nicola Henry from RMIT University said image-based abuse facilitated by AI followed a recognisable pattern.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"First, they make you feel special - like you can trust them," Henry said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Then they make you feel like you don't want to tell anyone about them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The conversations often become sexual or deeply personal very quickly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Then things change - fast."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What's being done?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wells said Roblox was being "put on notice" by the government ahead of their meeting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The reports we've been hearing about children being exposed to graphic content on Roblox and predators actively using the platform to groom young people are horrendous," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Something must be done – now.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australian parents and children expect more from Roblox. They can and must do more to protect kids, and when we meet I'll be asking how they propose to do that."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, The Daniel Morcombe Foundation yesterday launched </span><a href="https://danielmorcombe.com.au/adolescent-hub/" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>two new resources</span></a><span> to support schools, families and young people to recognise, react and report abuse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The films and accompanying guides were designed to be delivered in the classroom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victim-survivors and young people were consulted in scripting and production, as well as educators and experts, to ensure the films were realistic and respectful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bruce and Denise Morcombe addressed the fears around Roblox when they spoke at the launch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If anybody's children are using it, just please watch what your children are doing, and just make sure they're not talking to different people that they don't know," Denise Morcombe said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Roblox has defended its child safety measures, saying the protection of users was a major priority.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Roblox has robust safety policies and processes to help protect users that go beyond many other platforms, and advanced safeguards that monitor for harmful content and communications," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have filters designed to block the sharing of personal information, our chat features don't allow user-to-user image or video sharing, and we recently rolled out age checks globally to limit kids and teens to only chatting with others of similar age by default.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We also work closely with Australian law enforcement to support their investigations. While no system is perfect, our commitment to safety never ends, and we continue to strengthen protections to help keep users safe."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tech expert Trevor Long said Roblox had gone a lot further than many other platforms, putting in place "industry-leading" protections.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But, he said, "they're not doing enough to stop kids seeing content they shouldn't see".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The most important thing is educating parents that Roblox is not a kid's game. It's not. It looks like a cartoon," he told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When you see all the vision that we're showing of Roblox, you think it's a fun, cartoony game. It can be. But there's also other things that happen within Roblox that are not really kid-friendly gaming."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>