"Parents have reported significant concerns regarding the platform's safety measures."
Australia Cracks Down on Roblox & Blocks Anonymous "Face-Rating" Chat App
The Australian government has escalated its child safety efforts, issuing formal requests to gaming giant Roblox while simultaneously blocking a controversial anonymous chat platform called Omoggle.
Government Actions Regarding Roblox
Communications Minister Anika Wells has requested an urgent meeting with Roblox following reports of children being exposed to sexually explicit content and suicidal material on the platform. Wells has also formally asked the Australian Classification Board to review the appropriateness of Roblox's current PG rating.
The eSafety Commissioner has informed Roblox of its intent to test the platform's compliance with safety commitments made in 2024 and 2025. These commitments include default private accounts for users under 16, tools to prevent adults from contacting minors without parental consent, and default deactivation of direct and in-game chat features for children in Australia until age estimation is completed.
Under the Online Safety Act, platforms can face fines of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance.
Wells has consulted with the eSafety Commissioner regarding potential regulatory actions under the Online Safety Act. New regulations under this legislation, effective March 9, address age-restricted material, grooming, and sexual extortion.
Roblox's Age Verification Implementation
In December, Roblox introduced facial age estimation technology for users who wish to use chat functions. The system groups users into similar age cohorts until age 21. According to Matt Kaufman, Roblox's chief of safety, the facial age estimation system has an error rate of approximately 1.4 years for users under 18.
As of April, 50% of Roblox's 144 million global daily users have completed age assurance checks. In Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands—where the system launched in December—the rate is 60%.
Roblox conducts ongoing validation of accounts and requires rechecks when user behavior does not align with the verified age. The company has detected instances where parents assisted children in bypassing age checks. Fraud prevention measures are in place to prevent manipulation, including attempts to use videos of other people or alter appearances.
Additional Platform Safety Measures
Roblox announced new account types for users under 9 and those aged 9-15, with age-appropriate games. The company plans to implement additional checks for games on its platform, assessing both content and player interactions for age-appropriateness. Roblox intends to adopt the Australian classification system for games later this year.
Regulatory Context
Following the implementation of these safety features, Roblox is currently exempt from Australia's under-16 social media ban that was implemented in mid-December.
Australia's eSafety commissioner reported in March that more than two-thirds of teens under 16 in Australia remained on platforms included in the ban. Half of the 10 platforms covered by the ban were under investigation for non-compliance. The eSafety commissioner also stated that children within two years of age 16 could bypass facial age estimation technology on some social media platforms.
Background on Roblox Safety Concerns
The changes followed a Guardian Australia investigation that documented virtual sexual harassment and violence experienced by a user with a profile set as an eight-year-old on Roblox. The Australian Federal Police previously reported that Roblox had been infiltrated by right-wing extremists and Islamic State propaganda, and was used by groups to encourage young girls to self-harm.
The Minister's letter cited media reports of children accessing adult-oriented spaces within the game and legal charges against an individual accused of grooming hundreds of children on various platforms, including Roblox. Australian parents have reported significant concerns regarding the platform's safety measures.
Roblox's User Demographics
Roblox has approximately 111 million daily users globally, with an estimated 40 percent under the age of 13. Australia represents the platform's second-largest market.
Roy Morgan data indicates the most popular gaming categories on Roblox for Australian children aged 6-13 include Adventure (737,000 children), Action (637,000 children), and Simulation (541,000 children). A gender disparity exists in game category preferences, with boys showing higher participation in Fighting, Shooters, and Action categories, while girls show preference for Fashion, Music, and Party categories.
Blocking of Omoggle Platform
Omoggle, an anonymous chatting platform that pairs users and scores their faces using the PSL (Perceived Sexual Market Value) scale, was blocked in Australia as of June 10. The platform claims to be for users older than 18 but lacks a legitimate age verification system, allowing minors to access the service.
The platform gained popularity after streamers xQc, JasonTheWeen, and IShowSpeed shared their experiences with millions of followers. The website's name is a play on Omegele, a similar platform shut down in November 2023 after being used by paedophiles to groom and abuse children, according to the eSafety commissioner.
"Roulette-style apps that randomly pair strangers pose significant online safety risks." – eSafety spokesperson
During a 20-minute test by a journalist, multiple users who appeared younger than 18 were observed, some in school uniforms. One user made an inappropriate sexual remark.
Cyber safety expert Susan McLean described the platform as dangerous, stating that it poses extreme risks for young people struggling with self-esteem. McLean noted that banning individual platforms creates a false sense of security, as similar sites often emerge. She called for education of young people and parents.
An eSafety spokesperson said roulette-style apps that randomly pair strangers pose significant online safety risks and have been used by offenders to groom Australian children. eSafety is monitoring Omoggle's compliance with the Online Safety Act.