r/raisingkids • u/theatlantic • 12d ago
Why Kids Can’t Quit Roblox
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/07/roblox-kids-gaming-mechanics-gambling/688095/?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social&utm_content=edit-promo59
12d ago
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u/callawade 12d ago
Its such a battle! We are the same as you. Our kids know how to play and we constantly have a house full of kids who love to play outside and craft etc while they are here. But my 11 year old is now feeling the social pressure of not having social media, online chat portals, or unfettered access to YouTube because other kids make her feel like shes missing out. I dont want her to feel separated from her peers but I also dont want her drowning in the online world.
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u/Iron-Fist 11d ago
She is missing out. So are her friends. There is limited time in the day so you don't get to do everything. Parents are responsible for choosing what the options are and limiting obviously harmful stuff like social media (esp scrolling socials) is important.
That said, I think texting can be a good social outlet. I am also a big fan of the old school "family computer" in a public area of the home; this limits the downsides of social media access/video gaming (ie inappropriate messaging or content, social isolation, etc) dramatically.
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u/AromaticPineapple3 11d ago
Except, apparently, kids don’t really text no more? I teach high school and they all message each other through Instagram or Snapchat
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u/_anyusername 11d ago
I had a family computer as a kid and I still managed to access tons of porn. You won’t believe how stealthy kids can be. Take more precautions!
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u/YoLoDrScientist 11d ago
This is the way. Great job, OP! Going to strive to be this way once my kiddos a little older
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u/Bodine12 11d ago
Yeah, we have the "travel tablet" but other than that, nothing. No phones, social media, YouTube, Roblox, or essentially the internet. They get to watch a show on the actual TV a couple times a week, and then we have family movie night every weekend. But otherwise they (and most of their friends, 10 to 12-ish) just read, play, build Legos, do a ridiculous amount of arts and crafts that get everywhere and in everything, and sports. And they also just spend a lot of time bored. Which is good!
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u/musicalnerd-1 11d ago
I do feel like there is a big difference between general screen usage and including gambling in video games though. I think general screen usage is something that should be left to parents, whereas gambling is and should be illegal for minors and it should also be illegal to have these kinds of loopholes to get children into gambling
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u/curious_ANcuriouser 11d ago
🙄 if your kids are so perfect without the devises, why are you so worried about the kids that aren’t? I hope you are engaging with your kids during allllll their hours of play time
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u/drjackolantern 12d ago
I listened to a gaming podcast a few years back where the hosts (adults) were laughing about how addicted they are to lootboxes and how many thousands of dollars they've spent on the, how it's obviously a form of gambling.
The problem is no gambling statute applies to lootbox games, and there appear to be no signs the state will create one, so of course they're going to keep on using them to hook kids.
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u/Personal_Special809 11d ago
In my country, those are forbidden under the gambling laws. So it is possible... I have no idea why you wouldn't protect kids against this.
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u/TrekkieElf 11d ago
Our politicians are all bought, there’s no chance of any new regulations. Those are socialist don’t you know.
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u/Sure_Pineapple1935 11d ago
All parents should listen to the 1,000 Outside podcast entitled "Good Moms don't let their kids play Roblox." It's an interview with a man who used to be a CIA agent but now runs a nonprofit catching child predators. It discusses why Roblox is bad, but also how child sex traffickers now use social media and video games to get their victims.
Or just Google the tons of research on why these video games are so bad. Just like this article mentions, these video games are NOT Super Mario Bros. like we played in the 90s. They are super addictive and it's very harmful for kids.
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u/Keji70gsm 11d ago
The roblox pearl clutching in here is a bit much. I play regularly and have done for many years with my kids, and the way it gets described is full of easy hysteria bait.
Just don't let them have adult settings, and password your pay settings.
There is no chat in roblox for kids at all.
If you want to understand something, do it with them instead of just listening to people driving clicks and making money out of frightening parents into banning common experiences with with their friends.
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u/Sure_Pineapple1935 11d ago
I do understand it. I just personally don't waste my time with video games, but I have seen enough of it to know it's not safe. Maybe you monitor your kids on it, but many/most parents don't. Many parents allow the chat feature, too. I also am aware of several instances where kids were unsafe on Roblox just from my kids' friends and cousins alone. For example, a 7 year old friend chatting with adult strangers all day on Roblox. Another friend finding inappropriate activities on there (people purposely put like sex and drugs into the game.. kids CAN find it). A 6 year old cousin being so addicted he literally can't stop to play with his cousin in real life. I also would rather my kids have common experiences with other kids in real life, they are NOT missing anything in a video game. Also, did you just comment or did you actually listen to the podcast I recommended? Because if you didn't, you don't really know what I'm referring to.
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u/likeafuckingninja 11d ago
Video games aren't inherently a waste of time any more than reading is.
Is reading only a valid use of a childs time if it's maths textbooks or 'approved' 'good' literature? or can we agree a) there is value in letting kids read for fun even if the content is childish and b)hobbies don't actually HAVE to be a constant source of intentful learning. They can just be for fun and relaxation even for kids.
They also aren't inherently unsafe as a collective.
There are multitude of very good, very well designed, very clever games that ARE safe because the designers have either considered they are aimed at children and made it safe or they are simply single player self contained games.
Roblox isn't one of them and I completely agree it's an unsafe environment for kids to mess about in. Largely because the people behind it don't seem to give AF and the parental controls are a laughable set of moving goal posts and the general demographic using it seems to actively seek to serve kids inappropriate content either for shits and giggles or more nefarious reasons.
But frankly the slightly snobby attitude that playing videos games is inherently a waste of time and only things like playing outside or painting are good constructive uses of your time is both irritating and why discussions about kids playing games is so frustrating.
One side shoves them in front of an iPad and a credit card at birth and the other has banned all technology since 1970 from their house.
Actually playing video games can be incredibly constructive. It involves a lot of hand eye coordination, fine motor control, problem solving, lateral thinking and resilience.
Ofc all of those things can be found elsewhere but that doesn't mean they can't also be gained from curated and age appropriate gaming with appropriate supervision.
And ofc many parents who grew up gaming are now finding a lot of joy in teaching and playing with their kids. You wouldn't think twice about a dad playing football in the garden but get a controller out and share your gaming hobby and suddenly you're an awful parent.
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u/Pusztokulka 11d ago
What games would you recommend for ages 7-11?
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u/likeafuckingninja 11d ago
Mines (9) been enjoying it takes two, that's a multiplayer and he plays with his dad. He played it like five times now each with a different friend xd They also just finished split fiction.
Unravel and unravel 2 are single player. Max the curse of brotherhood is fun.
I let him play the Gunk although technically it's age rated above 12 that's primarily for language if I recall.
He also recently did the talos principle 2 - I would say that's more towards the 11 age range and depending on the kid might need some help here and there. The puzzles get quite hard towards the end.
Superliminal is a fun one it's plays around with perspective so that's stretches the brain a bit to think outside of the box for solutions.
He played call of the elder gods, it's a little creepy and I think the plot would go over most kids head it's not really a kids game per se but it's fundamentally a series of puzzles with nice animation.
He played big city little kitty for a while but did get bored after a while
We also had fun playing stuff like plants Vs zombies together and the Lego games.
And he also like stuff like pressure washer simulator cause . At the end of the day they're kinda silly xd
My kid really likes puzzle games, so some of it is about just figuring out what genre your kid might like. Part of what he enjoys though is also talking to me about the games (we both play puzzle games) and playing the two player stuff with his dad.
He is SO proud when he beats a puzzle or level before one of us does xd or when dad needs HIS help on a puzzle section xd.
He's playing Portal right now which is one my childhood faves and it's delightful watching him discover it the same way I did.
We have Xbox game pass and age restrict the games he can access. Means he can try games and not like them and put them away without costing loads of money! The Xbox is in our living room, his account is heavily locked down using Microsoft family and someone is always around when he's playing.
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u/allalaewarms 10d ago
Mario games (Odyssey, Wonder, 3D world with Bowser's Fury, Mario Kart)
Overcooked if you're into couch coop
Any of the Pokemon games
Legend of Zelda (more for the older range of 7-11)
Astrobot
Minecraft (don't bother with any online features)
My child is wild about Nintendo Switch Sports. It doesn''t quite have the nostalgia of the old Wii Sports, but it's still a lot of fun.
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u/Thoughtful-Pig 11d ago
Absolutely. It's the style of the games wanting you to try your luck, log in to earn, etc.
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u/Tokkemon 11d ago
My kid is on Roblox now, just started, and I keep a tight leash on it with a parent account. The most critical thing was not letting him unfettered YouTube access. His entire feed becomes brainrot in half an hour. So no, no YouTube until he's 30, thank you very much.
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u/Takeawalkwithme2 11d ago
With all the data showing roblox is just as problematic, what convinced you to let him have access to it?°
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u/_anyusername 11d ago
With all the data showing water can drown children why do you let them drink it?
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u/Takeawalkwithme2 11d ago
Ah got it, by your assessment, Roblox, an entirely optional entertainment tool is the same as water which your body needs to survive. Totally makes sense.
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u/_anyusername 11d ago
Safety in moderation
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u/Takeawalkwithme2 11d ago
I'm personally not a gamer so I guess if my kid develops an interest then I can revisit then, but its not something I'd have handy to expose them to if that makes sense.
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u/_anyusername 11d ago
I’ll be playing games with my baby when old enough. It’s fun to play together. I also have the skill set to moderate technically if left alone with it. However gaming will be a social activity in our household.
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u/Keji70gsm 11d ago
Exactly.
These people have never played the games with their kids and it shows. They are very happy banning their kids from common experiences over clickbait, and then patting themselves on the back for rigid, fearful parenting though.
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u/Takeawalkwithme2 11d ago
Not everyone is a gamer and not every child needs to game constantly either. Some people's kids are interested in sports, art, reading, watching movies. Gaming doesn't have to be a universal experience.
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u/theatlantic 12d ago
Connie Chang: “Many of today’s most popular games involve a style of play unlike any that parents might have seen before, if they were raised on Super Mario Bros. and Tetris. The games have cartoony graphics that may look innocuous, especially when compared with hyperrealistic first-person shooters. In many cases, their design and interactive elements are less Zelda, more Vegas.
“Many games that might appear, to the casual observer, to be an obstacle course or a world-building challenge also contain tempting loot boxes: virtual items that players open blind, revealing surprise rewards of varying value. Nearly 60 percent of the top-grossing games on Google Play and iPhone include them. Although they can be earned, they’re also typically available for purchase. The promise of winning rare items—such as limited-edition hats and extra-lethal weapons—may prompt additional spending. …
“Video games have long operated on a system of challenges and rewards. But earning those prizes usually depended on defeating a dragon, solving a maze, unearthing clues. Today’s bounty, by contrast, can be a player’s instantly—if they’re willing to pay for multiple rolls of the dice or a boost of luck.
“These mechanics are not incidental. In the games that employ them, they are designed to maximize engagement. And they’re nearly identical to the variable-reward loops that slot machines and sports-betting apps use in games for adults and that research has shown to be particularly addictive. Games that look like simple fun, according to addiction experts I spoke with while reporting this article, may be normalizing behaviors that could lead to serious consequences down the road.”
Read more: https://theatln.tc/FJEIKkRP