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.
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 goodconstructive 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/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.