Trilemma Jr.
What are the consequences of Roblox that are most commonly overlooked? Is there a dark side beneath that friendly front page? Find out in the article!
by Ira Thota
I’m sure that by now you have heard of Roblox. The game where millions of kids, including me, play with friends and enjoy an immersive online experience. Roblox allows you to push the limits of your imagination. However, some parents are concerned about the safety of their children on this online platform. Here’s where the Trilemma is presented: is Roblox is a family-friendly game that can broaden skills and creativity, or is it Roblox is a dangerous site and open to scams, or is there a neutral perspective?
Roblox is a Family-Friendly Game that can Broaden Skills and Creativity:
When someone says the name Roblox, there is one word that comes to mind: Creativity. Roblox encourages kids to think out of the box. Numerous create or play user-made experiences. This provides a chance for children to take a stab at programming and entrepreneurship. What starts as a fun hobby can lead to new opportunities and interests over time. For example, funtech.co states, “Unlike other games, Roblox was designed with coding in mind, being built from the ground using a simple coding language named Lua.” As mentioned earlier, Roblox players have the opportunity to make and program their own game through Roblox Studio. The coding language known as Lua is incredibly easy to learn compared to other languages. The site is designed so it is easy for young players to maneuver around. However, like every other online site, Roblox can be susceptible to online risks and scams.
Roblox is a Dangerous Site and Open to Scams:
Although roblox might provide a chance to play with friends, it has a large risk in online safety. Especially during the global pandemic/quarantine, Roblox has caused millions of children to become hooked to online games. Along with addiction, the Roblox currency, known as “robux” commonly has the effect of stress for kids. FamilyZone mentions, “A variety of different outfits are also available to purchase which is a huge drawcard for many young children who want to make their avatar look as cool as possible.” The result of this is pressure and bullying of not having a robux avatar. Besides stress and addiction, like any other site, Roblox has a high chance of scammers luring kids into online traps. To prevent this, Roblox has an inbuilt chat filter, with stronger moderation of words for younger players. However, the game still has a variety of bots, hackers, inappropriate games, and more.
The Neutral Perspective:
Finally, the answer we’ve all been waiting for. In some ways, yes, there is a neutral perspective. Roblox really is a great game with wonderful opportunities for programming and entrepreneurship. It has an imaginative community and a friendly environment. Yes, Roblox does have scams! But, so does every other social media/gaming site. All parents can do is inform their kids of online dangers and how to prevent themselves from getting scammed. Roblox can help promote social mindfulness and cautiousness online, and further beyond.