Roblox is a popular online platform that allows users to create, play, and share games with friends and other players from around the world. The platform has become particularly popular among young children and teenagers, who use it to play games, socialize with friends, and express their creativity through the creation of virtual worlds. However, as the platform has grown, some users have raised concerns about its lack of support for more mature content and experiences, such as games that are geared towards an adult audience.
The current age restriction on Roblox is 13 years old, which means that users must be at least 13 years old to create an account and participate in the platform’s community. While this restriction is in place to protect young children from inappropriate content, it has also limited the platform’s potential for growth and evolution. As the platform continues to grow and evolve, there is a growing need for Roblox to support more mature content and experiences for its users who are over the age of 18.
There are several reasons why Roblox should consider allowing 18+ experiences and features on the platform. First, it would help to meet the needs and interests of older users who are seeking more mature content and experiences. Many of the platform’s users are young adults who have outgrown the games and experiences that are currently available on the platform. Allowing 18+ experiences and features would give these users a reason to stay on the platform and continue to engage with its community.
Second, it would help to foster a more diverse and inclusive community on the platform. By allowing 18+ experiences and features, Roblox would give its users the opportunity to express themselves in new and exciting ways, regardless of their age or background. This would help to create a more dynamic and engaging platform that appeals to a wider range of users.
Third, it would help to drive innovation and creativity on the platform. By allowing more mature content and experiences, Roblox would give its users the opportunity to explore new and innovative ideas and concepts. This would help to drive the platform’s growth and evolution and make it a more attractive place for creative and innovative individuals to explore and engage with.
Of course, there are also some concerns about allowing 18+ experiences and features on the platform, particularly when it comes to safeguarding young children from inappropriate content. However, there are several measures that Roblox could implement to mitigate these risks. For example, the platform could implement age verification measures to ensure that users who are under the age of 18 are not able to access 18+ experiences and features.
In addition, Roblox could also invest in robust content moderation and reporting systems to help ensure that inappropriate content is removed from the platform as quickly as possible. The platform could also partner with trusted organizations and experts to develop and implement educational resources and programs that help young users understand the potential risks and dangers associated with accessing mature content online.
On February 8, 2023, Twitter user RobloxTrackers “leaked” a list of potential Age Guideline changes that might be coming in the future, which fueled rumors that Roblox will start permitting 18+ content to be published to the platform. Following that, this list was covered by a number of influential Roblox community news accounts, such as Bloxy News and RBXevents, and debated by some of the most popular Roblox YouTubers, such as KreekCraft, Sharkblox, and others. However, as of the time this story was published, Roblox has not yet issued a formal announcement addressing any of these “potential adjustments.”
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) determined that Roblox’s use of violence, language, suggestive themes, and gambling were more appropriate for an older audience and changed the game’s age rating from E10+ (everyone 10 and older) to T (Teen) in September 2022. This change was likely prompted by the recent introduction of voice chat at the time. The platform continued to expand and operate normally into 2023, even breaking its concurrent user (CCU) record in February 2023 with 9,306,605 active users at once. This modification had little to no impact on Roblox.
Even if the modifications reported by RobloxTrackers are true, the impact on the Roblox platform wouldn’t be as significant as some users might believe. Due to infrequent/mildly realistic violence, infrequent/mildly realistic cartoon or fantasy violence, as well as the potential for infrequent mild language, infrequent mild or suggestive themes, and simulated gambling, all of which are mentioned in the “possible changes” list, Roblox currently has a T rating. The intensity and frequency of said themes are the primary distinction between what is currently permitted on the platform and what might appear in the near future.
Roblox is still working on the specifics of its internal rating system, so the debate about the platform’s growth and target demographic is getting more complex. Due to the fact that nearly half of Roblox’s audience is under the age of 13, the platform has historically been perceived and referred to as a “children’s game.” The other half of Roblox players are over 13, thus they can theoretically be exposed to Teen rated topics and scenarios without any form of censorship, which is often missed when looking at the same figure. Roblox announced the installation of Age Recommendations in order to clarify the distinction between these two user categories.
Based on the themes that are predominant within them, this method, which is already being used across the platform, divides Roblox experiences into three categories: All Ages, 9+, and 13+. If the RobloxTrackers-discovered leaks materialize, an 18+ category might be added in the future, with little to no screening or censoring applied to those “mature” experiences. These experiences, like rated M games, would probably allow more graphic violence (blood and gore), strong language, romantic themes (dating), depictions of gambling, alcohol reference/use, etc., but would be blocked behind an age wall that could only be accessed by those who have linked a valid driver’s license or ID to their Roblox account and meet the required age criteria.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many compelling reasons why Roblox should consider allowing 18+ experiences and features on the platform. By doing so, the platform would meet the needs and interests of older users, foster a more diverse and inclusive community, drive innovation and creativity, and ensure the safety and well-being of young children. While there are some concerns about allowing mature content on the platform, these risks can be mitigated through the implementation of robust content moderation and reporting systems, age verification measures, and educational resources and programs.
