Roblox Is Rated 12+ But Partners With Barbie and SpongeBob - Here’s What Parents Need to Know
Roblox announced 100 safety updates, but do they fix the fundamental problem? Here's what every parent needs to know.You may have heard about Roblox's new safety updates and wondered: "Does this finally make it safe for my kids?" You're not alone. With 40 million children under 13 playing Roblox every day, understanding what these updates actually address—and what they don't—is critical for making informed decisions about your family's safety.I'm Ben Gillenwater, the Family IT Guy. I've spent 30 years in cybersecurity, including time at the NSA, and I'm also a dad navigating these same challenges. In this video, I break down what Roblox's new safety updates are and I explain the fundamental architecture problem that no update can solve.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:- Why user-generated content platforms are fundamentally incompatible with child safety- The missing feature that YouTube Kids has but Roblox refuses to implement- How free gaming platforms create conflicts between your child's safety and company revenue- Why Roblox partners with preschool brands despite being rated for ages 12+- What action you can take to protect not just your family but create broader changeRoblox's safety updates treat symptoms, not the core problem. The platform's architecture—millions of user-generated games combined with anonymous social features—is fundamentally incompatible with child safety. Understanding this helps you make better decisions not just about Roblox, but about any platform your children want to use.This isn't about being anti-technology. It's about understanding how these platforms are designed and whether that design aligns with your family's values and your children's developmental needs.GET MORE KIDS INTERNET SAFETY GUIDANCE:Subscribe for practical, parent-friendly guides on keeping kids safe onlineVisit FamilyITGuy.com for step-by-step instructions on parental controls across all major platformsSHARE WITH OTHER PARENTS:If this helped you understand the issues more clearly, share it with other parents in your community. The more families understand these patterns, the more pressure we can put on platforms to prioritize safety over engagement.