Building your own worlds from building blocks, taking on imaginative roles and completing exciting missions – the online game platform Roblox is currently very popular with children and young people.
The two words Robots and Blocks together make up the name of the Roblox gaming platform. Here, virtual worlds can be created and played with in Lego style, which especially excites children and teenagers who are 14 years old and younger. Roblox is a mixture of game world and social network and is reminiscent of Minecraft.
After registering on roblox.com, players receive a pre-made game character (avatar) that they can customize as they wish. Clothes or a different hairstyle are free of charge. Some extra accessories cost money in the form of their own currency Robux. Functions such as creating games as well as playing games themselves are freely available.
Many children love the game because they can easily create their own games. Registered users can create their own games with the “Roblox Studio” building tool and share them with others. Simple structures can be designed, but also complex worlds of experience such as cities and amusement parks. In the Roblox community, children and young people can creatively let off steam and chat with each other.
Roblox is known as a platform for young game developers and entices them to earn money with their own games: If your child creates a game that is well received by others so that they invest money in it, with a bit of luck your child will also receive a share as a developer.
Because people can contact others through Roblox, there are risks such as cyberbullying, cybergrooming, and hate speech. Roblox is repeatedly accused of not sufficiently moderating both the content and the communication among users and of not being consistent enough in dealing with violations of the community guidelines.
It can be tempting for kids to invest real money in a fantasy currency or sign up for a paid membership to have more options in the game. When exchanging objects among players, cheating may occur, since not all players offer real Robux. Those hoping to make a lot of money developing their own games on Roblox will be disappointed. Roblox has been criticized for exploiting young game developers and retaining most of the profits itself.
Stiftung Warentest put the game under the microscope in 2019 and rated it “unacceptable”. Not all content is suitable for children, and the huge selection of games includes shooters that are not suitable for children. Roblox also received deductions for data protection.
The provider emphasizes on its platform to take security and data protection very seriously. There is a reporting system for inappropriate chat messages and a chat filter. After registration, an account in “privacy mode” is automatically created for users under 13 years of age. Younger children will not have access to social media plug-ins or some notification messages, for example. Some games are also only released from a certain age. Moderators check whether uploaded images and video material meet the requirements for child-friendly content. Inappropriate content is actively filtered and deleted. However, all of this assumes that the age information of the players is securely checked during registration.
You can find out more information on the “Parents’ guide” web page. Roblox offers several safety features that help you keep better track of your child’s play.
Register and create a profile together with your child and discover the Roblox game world together. Sit down with your child regularly to talk about his or her play experiences. Ask to see what your child looks at and plays, and ask why he likes certain games and who he connects with.
Set the account to show only age-appropriate games to your child. Use a parent PIN so that only you can change the settings. Advise your child not to share private data via the platform. Educate your child about communication risks online and encourage them to block and report suspicious or unpleasant contacts. Chat options can be limited or even disabled and age visibility can be turned off. You can also find all important steps for parental control at Roblox on medien-kindersicher.de.
Children love to play. But especially when it comes to computer games, many parents are unsure how much playtime is appropriate for their child and when there is a risk of addiction.
Diving into other worlds, slipping into different roles, mastering difficult tasks, experiencing exciting stories and escaping reality for a short time – all this makes gaming tempting for children, whether on the computer or outside with friends. Games in particular offer countless opportunities to experience adventures and compete with others. What’s difficult about gaming is sometimes stopping again, because many games don’t have a clear end.
There are very few people who are actually “addicted” to computer games in the medical sense. The word comes up quickly in everyday life, even if it’s not actually appropriate. Just because your child spends a lot of time playing computer games doesn’t usually mean he or she is addicted. Nevertheless, in addition to talking to your child, firm rules will help if you feel he or she is playing too much and neglecting friends or school. Because “eccentric consumption” can also be problematic. More hints can be found here.
An addiction or dependency is a disease. It’s not a matter of “how long” or “how often,” but “why.” Observe your child to find out why they are so captivated by a game. If you’re worried your child might be addicted, you can look at some risk factors that could indicate your child might be addicted to gambling. If you observe the following in your child over an extended period of time, you should seek help:
These are just a few of the many characteristics that can be typical of a computer game addiction. However, be aware: Only experts can make a medical diagnosis!
If you suspect a computer game addiction in your child, the first thing you should do is address it openly. Show understanding and think together about what rules can make it play less. If you can no longer find access to your child, addiction counseling centers offer support and can provide concrete contacts. There are these in larger cities and also online. Research jobs in your area online or contact, for example: http://www.fv-medienabhaengigkeit.de/hilfe-finden.html or https://www.nummergegenkummer.de/. An addiction usually has other causes than computer gaming itself. You should find these out by talking to your child and with the help of professionals.
Every year in August, numerous visitors gather for four days in Cologne for one of the world’s most important computer and video games trade fairs. There are always a lot of gaming-enthusiastic children and young people in attendance.
Gamescom is Europe’s largest trade fair for interactive entertainment. Thousands of game enthusiasts from all over the world come together here. The focus is on computer and video games, their developers and the gaming community. New games will be unveiled on the large exhibition grounds, gameplay scenes will be presented on live stages, there will be lectures and shows, game corners, workshops, interviews with game developers and much more. At some events you can not only watch, but also play yourself.
Visiting Gamescom is a special experience for adolescents in different age groups. Everything revolves around gaming. You can discover a lot and try out new games – if you want to stand in the long queues.
For children up to 11 years old, there is a “Family & Friends” area where everything is tailored to the needs of the age group. This area is designed to be as stress-free as possible and offers a particularly wide range of variety and hands-on activities, such as play stations and a “Junior Club” where toddlers are guided by trained caregivers.
A key reason why young people are eager to attend Gamescom is the chance to see their favorite YouTuber and Let’s player live.
Walking around Gamescom without adult supervision is the epitome of independence for many children. As a general rule, children under the age of three are not admitted to the fair. If your child is between the ages of four and eleven, he or she must be accompanied by an adult at all times. In fact, you should think carefully about whether your child can already handle the many stimuli at such an event.
Some parents with children over the age of eleven fear their child may encounter games inappropriate for their age, as Gamescom presents games for all ages. Upon admission, each visitor will receive an age band with different colors upon presentation of a photo ID, analogous to the USK age ratings (12, 16 or 18 years). The USK checks every publicly presented game at Gamescom, so everything is clearly marked with the appropriate age limits. In the case of games with a USK 16 or 18, booth personnel must ensure that these are actually not visible and accessible to children – e.g., through privacy screens or separate rooms.
If your child is over eleven years old and independent enough to discover Gamescom on his or her own, you should still arrange a meeting point with a time in each hall where the family can meet again briefly. Gamescom has a large crowd of visitors, so it’s easy to feel lost. Also, make sure your child’s smartphone has enough battery or give them a note with your name and phone number. This is also recommended if, after careful consideration, you decide to allow your child (who is 12 or older) to visit Gamescom with friends without adult accompaniment. Also, arrange a set time and place to pick up your child. Also, keep in mind that food and beverage prices at trade shows are often relatively high.
A Lootbox is a special type of in-app purchase. The term Lootbox can be translated as “loot box”. Such a box can be acquired in many console games or game apps. It resembles a grab bag because its contents are not known before purchase. Often, these paid in-game purchases are items that are not relevant to the game, such as a new outfit for the character or additional equipment. A player can purchase a Lootbox for real money or in-game currency. Particularly valuable items are rare and the percentage of rivets is high. That’s why a Lootbox is like a game of chance and has been under critical scrutiny for some time. It has even been considered to ban them, as gambling should not be accessible to children and teenagers under the age of 18. The Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) does not consider Lootboxes to be gambling, but advises parents to take a closer look.
To make sure your child doesn’t fall into the cost trap, you should discuss with him or her what Lootboxes are and how game makers plan to make money with them. It’s best to try out a new game together with your child, as it’s sometimes impossible to tell beforehand if lootboxes play a role.
If your child absolutely wants to buy a Lootbox, you can agree on rules for this. Just as with the allocation of media use time, you can, in consultation with your child, convert some of the pocket money into virtual play money that can be used for such purposes. In this way, your child learns bit by bit how to handle his or her pocket money responsibly.
