Recently, a major update to Roblox’s policies has caused a stir among players, particularly those with accounts under the age of 13. Starting in January, Roblox will enforce stricter rules that limit the features and content available to younger players.
These changes have generated a lot of debate, with many users concerned about how their gaming experience will be affected. In this article, we break down these updates and explore how they might impact young players, as well as how parental controls can offer some workaround options.
Roblox is Changing Its Rules for Under-13 Accounts
The most significant change to Roblox accounts under the age of 13 is the restriction on chat and communication features. Starting in January, players with an under-13 account will no longer be able to chat in-game or use the direct message (DM) feature outside of Roblox experiences. This means players will not be able to interact with friends or other users in real-time during gameplay, which is a major part of the Roblox social experience.
Moreover, Roblox will also begin implementing content labels for games. These labels categorize games by maturity levels such as “minimal,” “mild,” “moderate,” and “restricted.” Under-13 users will only have access to games that fall under the “minimal” and “mild” categories.
This means popular games like “Adopt Me” and “Barry’s Prison Run” will remain accessible, but games with a “moderate” rating, such as “Murder Mystery 2,” or any games that involve social hangouts, will be off-limits. The goal of these restrictions is to create a safer, more age-appropriate environment for younger players.
Parental Control Options and Workarounds
While these changes may be disappointing for many younger Roblox users, there is a silver lining: the introduction of enhanced parental controls. Parents can now link their own Roblox account to their child’s account, which allows them to bypass many of the restrictions. By linking the accounts, parents can adjust game content maturity settings and communication controls, effectively lifting the ban on certain features.
For instance, a parent can enable their child’s account to access “moderate” games and restore chat functionality, providing a more flexible gaming experience. Parents can also manage the amount of Robux a child can spend and control which private servers they are allowed to join. These parental control features give families more oversight and control over their children’s gaming habits, ensuring a balance between safety and fun.
Additional Roblox News and Updates
In addition to these changes for under-13 accounts, there have been several other updates to Roblox that might be of interest to users. For example, the platform recently increased the friend limit from 200 to 250, with plans to expand it further to 1,000 friends in the coming months. Additionally, Roblox has rolled out its Black Friday sale, bringing back classic items like the “Big Head” and “Blue Traffic Cone” for limited-time purchases.
Interestingly, Roblox’s CEO, David Baszucki, made headlines by changing his avatar to a cat, sparking curiosity and online discussion. This quirky move follows a previous avatar change to a wolf, showing that even the Roblox CEO enjoys adding a bit of personality to the platform.
Roblox’s new changes for under-13 accounts reflect the platform’s ongoing efforts to create a safer, more controlled environment for younger users. While these updates limit communication and content for underage players, they also offer a chance for parents to actively manage and adjust their children’s Roblox experience.
As Roblox continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these changes are received and whether they prompt further adjustments in the future. In the meantime, younger players and their parents can explore the platform’s new parental controls to maintain a balance of safety and fun.