Communications Minister Anika Wells has written to social gaming platform Roblox, requesting an urgent meeting about “graphic and gratuitous user-generated content” on the platform, including sexually explicit and suicidal material.
“Even more disturbing are ongoing reports and concerns about children being approached and groomed by predators, who actively seek to exploit their curiosity and innocence,” Wells’ letter says, as reported by the ABC.
The minister’s letter references work conducted by Roblox with the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, in 2024 and 2025 to introduce protections.
“Despite this, the issues appear to persist. This is untenable, and these issues are of deep concern to many Australians parents and carers.”
The eSafety Commissioner has also notified Roblox of its intention to directly test the effectiveness of the privacy and parental consent protocols that it made last year.
“We remain highly concerned by ongoing reports regarding the exploitation of children on the Roblox service and exposure to harmful material,” Ms Inman Grant has said.
Communications Minister Anika Wells. Image: X
Roblox will soon need to comply
Roblox has not been included in Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, as it’s considered a gaming app despite its widespread popularity among Australian children.
Australia’s social media minimum age restrictions took effect on December 10 and require digital platforms to verify users’ ages and lock accounts for those under 16.
Ten digital platforms must comply, including Google’s YouTube, Meta’s Facebook, Instagram and Threads, Snapchat, Reddit and TikTok.
But new rules on age-restricted material, such as pornography and self-harm, come into effect on March 9 and will apply to Roblox.
Online gaming services will also be mandated to prohibit and take action against non-consensual sharing of intimate images, grooming and sexual extortion.