Roblox is a very popular game among children and young people. Here you can create virtual worlds in Lego style, a mixture of game world and social network. At the beginning of 2025, Roblox received the new age rating of 16+ – we take a look at what this means for young people and you as parents.
Roblox combines gaming, social media and creative design on one platform. For example, chat functions are also included, players can develop their own games and even earn money with them. In January 2025, the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) raised the age rating for Roblox from 12 to 16. The reasons for the increase are violent content, increased purchase incentives and a range of offers for different age groups. The USK also points out online risks, e.g. chats and in-game purchases with random content, so-called loot boxes. With these gambling-like mechanisms, it is particularly difficult for younger people to keep track of their spending. If accounts are not adequately secured, children and young people can come into contact with problematic behavior such as cybergrooming or cyberbullying.
In addition, the security measures intended to protect younger players are not sufficient: there are no age labels in accordance with German youth protection standards and children’s accounts are not secure enough. The new age rating “from 16 years” should also provide parents with better guidance.
What does this mean for you and other families? First of all, if your child (under the age of 16) already has a Roblox account, you are not obliged to delete the account due to the age rating upgrade. However, the reasons for raising the age rating clearly show that the platform harbors risks for children that need to be taken seriously. Based on this, you as parents must ultimately decide whether the platform is still suitable for your child.
You don’t want to ban use completely? Make sure you check the account restrictions together and adjust them if necessary. In any case, create a parent account and link it to your child’s account. Talk to your child about the age upgrade and why the approval has been adjusted. Think about how future use can be made safer – for example, only when accompanied by you or older siblings.
If you decide that your child should delete an existing Roblox account, talk about it together and explain your reasons. Show understanding for the fact that this decision may make your child sad or angry. Think together about what alternative, age-appropriate games your child might enjoy. You can find recommendations, for example, at the NRW games guide.
If you are already using a parental control program, depending on the age setting, games with a 16+ rating may be automatically blocked. You can read more about games here.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently using the messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
