Editing Roblox

{{Incomplete}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Roblox
| Type = Company
| Founded = 2004
| Industry = Gaming
| Official Website = https://roblox.com/
| Logo = Roblox.svg
}}

[[wikipedia:Roblox|'''Roblox''']] is an online platform which lets users create their own games, as well as all sorts of virtual items for their personal avatars. The platform is owned by the Roblox Corporation.

Users create games through Roblox Studio, an application separate from the Roblox Player{{Citation needed}} Roblox Studio can be used by a user to create digital backups of the games they create. These backups are stored on their hard drive and can not be meaningfully altered by the Roblox Corporation.{{Citation needed}}

==Consumer impact summary<!-- Have not yet developed the article enough to warrant filling in the privacy here. To be finished at a later date. -->==
{{Incomplete section}}

*User freedom: Documented in section 11 of the Roblox Terms of Use,<ref>https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use#dispute-resolution-user-roblox</ref><!-- Not interested in fishing up this just yet, focused too much energy on the problematic moderation section. - JamesTDG --> the user agrees to resolve disputes through Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution (MIDR).<ref>https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use#dispute-resolution-user-roblox</ref><!-- Fix this. --> If MIDR does not resolve a dispute, users within the United States are forced to proceed under [[Forced arbitration|binding arbitration]].{{Citation needed}} In order to initiate MIDR, users are required to send a physically-written notice by certified mail or through Federal Express.{{Citation needed}}<!-- Reminds me a LOT about the process to can one's own gym membership... -->
*User privacy: All operations related to Roblox must, to some extent, occur on servers that Roblox owns. For example, it is nearly impossible to play a Roblox game without interacting with the Roblox servers. Roblox servers are not end to end encrypted,{{Citation needed}} allowing possible vulnerabilities.{{Citation needed}} Roblox explicitly states that they monitor all user activity to see if it complies with their rules.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restricted Content Policy |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004630823-Roblox-Privacy-and-Cookie-Policy#posting-content |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Roblox |at=Posting content}}</ref>
*Business model: Roblox profits off of an exclusive currency purchased with real-world currency called ''Robux'', and it is often used an an intermediary for microtransactions on the platform for user-generated content (UGC) such as cosmetics.{{Citation needed}} Roblox is known to also make money off of collaborations that function as advertisements, such as with IKEA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jun 3, 2024 |title=IKEA is opening a new store on Roblox… and you could be paid to work there! |url=https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-is-opening-a-new-store-on-roblox-pub8a9272d0/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=Ikea}}</ref>
*Market competition: Various platforms such as [[Epic Games]]' [[Fortnite]] have been known to emulate how Roblox works.{{Citation needed}} Very few however, are successful in competing against them.
*Other information: The Roblox Corporation can terminate (delete) a user's account as long as they believe they are violating the Terms of Use.<ref name = ":1">{{Cite web |date=Last updated 25 Jul 2025 |title=Roblox Terms of Use |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004647846-Roblox-Terms-of-Use |url-status=live |access-date=Aug 12 2025 |website=Roblox |page=Section 2}}</ref> Termination can not be revoked.<ref name=":1" /> A terminated user will lose all content they own on Roblox along with their account, including what they purchased with Robux.<ref name=":1" />

==Monetization==
Roblox is a free{{Citation needed}} service which features in-game purchases made with Robux, e.g. new accessories, exclusive content in certain games, and the ability to access certain games.{{Citation needed}} All items purchased on Roblox are stored on Roblox servers alone,{{Citation needed}} so Roblox has the ability to modify or delete the items you own.{{Citation needed}}

On September 9, 2021, Roblox launched an automated process for users to receive Robux back for items they had bought which had been deleted or otherwise moderated <ref>https://www.roblox.com/modcreditagreement/974158ba-99f0-4915-8fde-5b07b3cbbe09</ref> <!-- May not be a sufficient source but it's all I found after looking. -->. Until then, there was no refund method in place.{{Citation needed}}

==Incidents==

===Accusations of child labor===

In January 2022, ''The Guardian'' published a story accusing Roblox of profiting off child labor with detailed stories of teenagers being scammed and becoming victims of sexual grooming in communities conveniently off the platform.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/jan/09/the-trouble-with-roblox-the-video-game-empire-built-on-child-labour</ref> In October 2022, the first of many lawsuits alleging Roblox enabled a girl's sexual exploitation was filed.<ref>https://www.reuters.com/legal/game-company-roblox-enabled-girls-sexual-exploitation-lawsuit-claims-2022-10-05/</ref>

===Blocking Linux users===
In April 2023, Roblox intentionally blocked Linux users playing the game via Wine, a tool used for running Windows apps on POSIX-compliant operating systems, they cite "security and compatibility concerns."<ref>{{Cite web |title= Devforum Post by MrEaker of Roblox |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/2}}</ref> This announcement followed Roblox's acquisition of Byfron, as well as their developments towards a 64-bit Roblox client.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Devforum Post by Roblox Announcing Byfron Acquisition|url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/welcoming-byfron-to-roblox/2018233}}</ref> Despite this change to the client, users were still able to access Roblox Studio, the development application, utilizing Wine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Devforum Post by Bitdancer regarding Studio|url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/the-new-roblox-64-bit-byfron-client-forbids-wine-users-from-using-it-most-likely-unintentional/2305528/34}}</ref> In August 2023, an update to Roblox once again allowed users to run Roblox via Wine, and many users opted to use a fork of Wine titled Vinegar made specifically for Roblox.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Devforum Post Discussing Roblox on Linux |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/vinegar-the-better-way-to-run-roblox-on-linux/2224394/24}}</ref> In February of 2024, Roblox would go back on their decision and ban the use of Wine for the Roblox Client, citing extended use of Wine-based exploits, Roblox Studio remains available under wine.<ref>{{Cite web |title= VinegarHQ 2024 Roblox on Linux Block FAQ |url=https://vinegarhq.org/Home/rol_faq.html}}</ref> In August 2024, the Vinegar team would release Sober, a closed-source application utilizing a translation layer to access the Roblox client via a mobile Android package kit (APK).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sober - Roblox on Linux |url=https://sober.vinegarhq.org/ |access-date=12 Aug 2025}}</ref> In April 2025, Roblox engineer Bitdancer would state on the Roblox Devforums that they see no reason to block Sober, but that they may disable it as a side effect of changes in security. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Devforum Post by Bitdancer regarding Sober|url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/roblox-security-changes-break-nvidia-ansel-vulkan-layer-support/3601172/40}}</ref>

===Problematic moderation<!-- Consider merging the main article for this topic with this article. -->===
{{Main|Roblox's problematic moderation}}
Roblox as a platform has been known by consumers to moderate content in ways that are inconsistent. The platform's chat moderation feature censors inoffensive speech,<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/Gregheffley95 |date=Feb 26, 2021 |title=Roblox censors almost everything |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/lsxpex/roblox_censors_almost_everything/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619214011/https://old.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/lsxpex/roblox_censors_almost_everything/ |archive-date=Jun 19, 2023 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> including numbers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Mar 7, 2017 |title=Why the hell are numbers censored! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/roblox/comments/5y0w3z/why_the_hell_are_numbers_censored/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] - r/Roblox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=JParty |date=Feb 24, 2017 |title=Updates to Chat Privacy API + New Account Indicators + Changes to Text Filtering APIs |url=https://devforum.roblox.com/t/updates-to-chat-privacy-api-new-account-indicators-changes-to-text-filtering-apis/33867 |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=Roblox Dev Forum}}</ref>

In recent years, moderation has been documented to neglect handling child predators, only handling the most egregious of actors after massive consumer backlash<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olivia |first=Carville |last2=D’Anastasio |first2=Cecilia |date=Jul 22, 2024 |title=Roblox’s Pedophile Problem |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=Bloomberg}}</ref> or lawsuits,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tanenbaum |first=Michael |date=Feb 25, 2025 |title=Family from N.J. sues Roblox and Discord, claiming platforms are 'hunting ground' for child predators |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/new-jersey-familys-suit-alleges-roblox-discord-are-hunting-ground-child-predators/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=Philly Voice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Aug 8, 2025 |title=‘Breeding ground for predators’: Roblox sued by DeKalb 10-year-old’s family |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/breeding-ground-predators-roblox-sued-150622871.html |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=WSBTV 2 Atlanta}}</ref><!-- Good to check for a list, but not a good ref for the article:
https://www.gamethemedia.com/the-crime-history-of-roblox --> and in many cases, these individuals tend to have their bans reversed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Aug 9, 2025 |title=Roblox Is Threatening to Sue Me For Protecting Kids |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMqAw_NjHK8&t |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Additionally, the platform has been documented to host various mature experiences,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Jan 9, 2024 |title=this simulator should NOT be on roblox... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdacOJxmjU |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Apr 14, 2024 |title=Roblox Needs to BAN These Games... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE3FeYfJOhw |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> which have been recorded to be used as breeding grounds for predatory behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlep |date=Feb 7, 2024 |title=I Caught a Roblox PREDATOR in this game... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQMSc-9jGMQ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> This neglect has gone so far as to the platform threatening litigation against individuals attempting to get child predators reported to authorities.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Huang |first=Marcus |date=Aug 9, 2025 |title=Roblox YouTuber Battles Child Predators {{!}} Accounts Terminated Amid Backlash |url=https://leveluptalk.com/news/roblox-youtuber-fights-child-predators-banned/ |access-date=Aug 10, 2025 |work=Level Up Talk}}</ref>

According to Ruben Sim, the Roblox report system (which allows users to 'report' rule-violating behavior to Roblox moderators) often had a success rate of 0%, even when obviously rule-violating accounts possessing usernames which were distorted versions of minor-sexualizing phrases such as "14 year old slut".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sim |first=Ruben |date=Dec 22 2023 |title=Do Roblox Reports Really Work? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-s0sLZ4oJA&ab_channel=RubenSim |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Youtube |type=Video}}</ref><!-- A single YouTube video is a poor source, consider getting more citations as to the inefficiency of Roblox reporting. -->

====Condo Games====
"Condo" games on Roblox are a type of game which simulates sex between Roblox avatars. According to the policies on Romantic and Sexual Content, "Any content which explicitly [depicts] sexual content or nudity is against the rules of Roblox".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restricted Content Policy |url=https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/15869919570708-Restricted-Content-Policy |url-status=live |access-date=12 Aug 2025 |website=Roblox |at=Romantic and Sexual Content}}</ref> Due to the rule-violating nature of these games and how they can harm the fanbase of Roblox, due to the fanbase of Roblox being overwhelmingly composed of young children''[citation needed]'', they are often removed by Roblox moderation.

However, due to the potentially backup-creating nature of Roblox Studio, creators of these Condo games can endlessly republish these offending games under alternate accounts as long as they keep the backup file. While Roblox is considering the creation of "Restricted" experiences which may allow these heavier sexual themes''[citation needed]'', Condo games almost never mark themselves as restricted, allowing underage users to potentially access them.

===Predator-hunting groups===
In 9th August, 2025, Roblox issued a Cease and Desist to Roblox predator hunting channel RealSchlep<ref>{{Cite web |first=RealSchlep |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=Schlep on X posting about his Cease and Desist |url=https://x.com/RealSchlep/status/1954255952997478537 |url-status=live |access-date=14 Aug 2025 |website=X}}</ref>. "Schlep used the method of acting like an underage person (decoy) to catch bad actors on Roblox. Using this method he got 6 arrests according to his team{{Citation needed}} using Roblox until they issued a Cease and Desist. Roblox added a rule to their Terms of Use<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Matt |date=13 Aug 2025 |title=Roblox on vigilante groups |url=https://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/08/more-on-removal-of-vigilantes-from-roblox |url-status=live |access-date=Aug 14 2025 |website=Roblox}}</ref>. Roblox is reassuring their playerbase that the groups do not use the proper channels that Roblox provides to report potential criminals. This sparked even more backlash for the already problematic moderation system, Leaving players and parents in doubt if Roblox is even a safe environment for children.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]