Child Safety
Ongoing coverage on Child Safety.
Latest coverage
Turkey wants to ban social media for kids under 15
The Turkish parliament has passed a bill that would ban children under 15 from using social media, requiring platforms to implement age verification and parental controls. The legislation also impacts online gaming companies, with potential penalties for non-compliance. This move follows similar regulatory trends in other countries like Greece, Austria, and Australia.
Australian eSafety Commissioner issues transparency notices to major game platforms
The Australian eSafety Commissioner has issued transparency notices to major gaming platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam. These notices demand explanations on how the platforms address child grooming, radicalization, cyberbullying, and online hate, with potential fines of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance. This action follows concerns about negative impacts on children and specific incidents reported on these platforms.
Roblox is finally cracking down on illicit games as security continues to tighten
Roblox is reportedly increasing its security measures and content moderation to combat illicit games, including those with sexual themes referred to as 'condos.' This comes after the platform reached a $10 million settlement with Nevada over child safety issues and appointed Matt Kaufman as its new Chief Safety Officer. While some players welcome the stricter enforcement, others worry about accidental bans.
MMO Week in Review: Gorgon’s drama, TurtleWoW’s demise, Ashes’ docs
This week in the MMORPG genre saw significant drama and updates across various titles. Ashes of Creation's former boss released legal documents, Project Gorgon faced community backlash over bans, and TurtleWoW announced its closure following a lawsuit. Additionally, Book of Travels is transitioning to a solo offline game, while new content and updates arrived for games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Elder Scrolls Online.
Podcast: Roblox, Hollywood, and London Games Week
The GamesIndustry.biz podcast returns, discussing highlights from London Games Week, new UK government funding for the games industry, alleged revenue figures from a Rockstar Games hack, and Roblox's new parental controls alongside a child safety lawsuit settlement. The episode also previews an upcoming interview with Peter Molyneux about his career and his final game, Masters of Albion.
Roblox settles Nevada state lawsuit for over $12 million, promising to make platform changes
Roblox has settled a lawsuit with the state of Nevada for over $12 million concerning alleged child safety issues on its platform. The agreement includes $10 million for non-digital programs for children, $1 million for an online safety awareness campaign, and $1.5 million for a law enforcement liaison. Roblox will also implement age verification features and enhanced parental controls.
Roblox has to pony up $12 million to settle child lawsuit – the company has “no finish line when it comes to safety”
Roblox has agreed to a $12 million settlement to resolve a child safety lawsuit, which includes implementing new safety features and facial age recognition. The company will spend $10 million over three years on non-digital activities for children and $2.5 million on educational campaigns. This settlement aims to provide parents with tools to protect their children and prevent predators on the platform.
Roblox to pay over $12m to state of Nevada in child safety settlement
Roblox has agreed to a settlement with the state of Nevada, paying over $12 million for child safety initiatives and an online safety campaign. The company will implement enhanced age verification, monitor account activity, and restrict nighttime notifications for minors nationwide. This agreement comes amidst ongoing lawsuits and concerns regarding child safety on the platform. Separately, Jagex announced plans to expand RuneScape: Dragonwilds into the Asia-Pacific region with localized versions.
Roblox introduces age-based accounts
Roblox is introducing new age-based accounts, including Roblox Kids (5-8), Roblox Select (9-15), and Roblox (16+), to enhance child safety and tailor content access. These accounts will automatically adjust based on user age and will be implemented alongside expanded parental controls and an International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) system. The changes aim to address concerns regarding child grooming, inappropriate content, and platform bans.
Roblox Is Splitting Into Three Age Tiers and Parents Are Actually Here For It
Roblox is implementing a new age-based tier system in June 2026, dividing the platform into Roblox Kids (under 9), Roblox Select (9-15), and standard Roblox (16+). This change introduces distinct features, communication settings, and content access tailored to each age group, aiming to enhance child safety and parental control. The system includes automatic age transitions and differentiated content filtering, with parents having the ability to approve specific games for younger users.
Roblox to introduce new kid accounts in its quest to appear less of a child safety nightmare
Roblox is introducing new age-based account categories, Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, to improve child safety and content moderation. These categories will adjust content access, communication settings, and parental controls based on user age, aiming to make the platform healthier for all users.
Upgraded Roblox Brings 'Smoother Gameplay' to PS5, Amid Increasing Scrutiny Over Child Safety
Roblox has launched a native PlayStation 5 application, offering improved performance with 30% faster loading times and smoother frame rates. This release comes amid increasing scrutiny regarding the platform's child safety measures and the effectiveness of its new parental control tools.
Roblox boosts child safety with new account types limiting chat and game access
Roblox is introducing new age-tiered accounts in June 2026 to enhance child safety, with "Roblox Kids" for ages 5-8 and "Roblox Select" for ages 9-15. These tiers will automatically restrict chat and game access based on maturity ratings, with "Roblox Kids" having chat disabled by default. Parents will gain more control over game approvals, while developers will face stricter verification requirements to reach younger audiences.
Majority of Australian kids are still on banned social media platforms, study finds
A study by the Molly Rose Foundation found that 61% of Australian children aged 12-15 continue to use social media platforms banned for their age group, questioning the effectiveness of the country's new regulations. Many children reported easily bypassing the ban, and the Australian government is investigating platforms like TikTok and Meta for non-compliance, with potential penalties up to A$49.5 million.
Nebraska Sues Roblox Over Child Safety Failures - Unigamesity
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, alleging systemic failures to protect children on the platform. The lawsuit claims Roblox's design and business practices expose children to harm, including exploitation by predators, and that the company has prioritized profit over safety despite awareness of these issues. Similar lawsuits have been filed by other states, signaling a nationwide push for accountability and potential changes to the platform's operations.
Roblox Is Rethinking Accounts After Lawsuits Over Failing To Protect Children
Roblox Corp. is introducing new account categories for children aged 5-15 and adults 16+ to enhance child safety and content appropriateness. These changes, rolling out in June, include age-checks via facial recognition or parental verification and adjusted communication and content access settings based on age groups. The company aims to provide parents with more control over their children's interactions and game access, following lawsuits and criticism regarding child protection on the platform.
Evening Legal Briefs
Florida has initiated an investigation into OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, concerning potential risks to minors. Separately, John Deere is facing a $99 million lawsuit for allegedly monopolizing repair services for its farming equipment.
Greece will ban all kids under 15 from using social media
Greece will ban children under 15 from using social media starting next year, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis citing concerns about anxiety and addictive design. Social media companies will be legally required to verify user ages, facing fines under the EU’s Digital Services Act if they fail to comply. This initiative aims to push the European Union towards similar regulations.
Sunday Metaverse
Austria is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 14. This potential legislation aims to address concerns regarding child safety and the impact of social media on young users.
Meta to pay $375 million for 'thousands' of children's safety violations, a whole 0.19% of its 2025…
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been ordered by a New Mexico jury to pay $375 million for thousands of children's safety violations. Prosecutors argued that Meta prioritized profits over safety, violating the state's Unfair Practices Act by failing to protect children from sexual exploitation. A similar verdict in California found Meta and Google negligent in protecting young users, though the shared penalty was significantly lower.
