As a millennial parent, I am a part of the generation who grew up with the internet but who also has memories of a time before the World Wide Web. Despite having access to the internet from around the age of 11 or 12, the web was a different place back then; there was no social media, chat rooms were still a thing, and Google wasn’t the dominant force that it is today. That makes parenting a seven-year-old obsessed with playing games online and watching YouTube pretty scary.
Dex is currently obsessed with online games such as Roblox, and even though I try to keep a close eye, I am concerned about how to keep my child safe on games such as Roblox. After conducting thorough research on the matter, here are my findings.
Encountering Negative Scenarios Online
As a teenager, I remember encountering some strange things when I first started using the internet alone, and now as a parent, I am very conscious that my child is much younger than I was when I first started.
I discovered a really interesting survey online that found that children as young as four years old spend an average of 21 minutes online each day. Furthermore, ExpressVPN’s research stated that Roblox was the most likely platform for children to experience negative scenarios, closely followed by YouTube. Both of which Dex loves and does tend to use unsupervised.
How to Keep a Child Safe on Roblox
There are a number of things you can do to keep your child safe when playing online games such as Roblox. Some of these include:
- Keep your child’s account private
- Monitor their activity
- Talk to them about online safety
- Use the chat filter
- Use parental controls
- Set time limits
Let’s look at each in turn.
Keep your child’s account private
Keeping a child’s account private on Roblox is important for several reasons. Firstly it will protect them from strangers. By only allowing friends to contact them, children are less likely to be contacted by strangers or potential predators. A private account will also give you more control over their friends list, ensuring that they are only interacting with people they know and trust.
Monitor their activity
As a parent to a young child, it is important that you continually monitor their activity online. As Dexter has gotten older, I have let him have more independence with accessing online games, but I ensure that I take his devices away from him in the evenings and review his apps.
During periods when he may be using online games such as Roblox independently, I am sure to check in and see what he’s up to and ensure everything is okay.
Talk to them about online safety
It is essential for parents to talk to their children about online safety. The internet is a powerful tool that can be used for educational, social and entertainment purposes. Still, it also poses potential risks such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and online predators. By talking to children about online safety, parents can educate them about the dangers and teach them how to protect themselves when using the internet.
This not only helps to keep them safe but also builds trust and opens up lines of communication that will be important if they ever encounter a problem online. Additionally, discussing online safety can empower children to make good decisions and navigate the online world more confidently, independently, and safely. It can also help parents stay connected to their child’s online activities and be aware of any potential issues.
Use the chat filter
Roblox has a built-in chat filter that can be used to automatically filter out inappropriate language and messages. Here is how to use the chat filter on Roblox:
- Log in to the child’s account on Roblox.
- Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen to access the settings.
- Click on the “Privacy” tab.
- Scroll down to the “Chat” section and make sure that the “Filter Language” option is turned on.
- If you want to customise the filter settings, you can click on the “Advanced” button next to the “Filter Language” option. This will allow you to set specific words or phrases that will be blocked by the filter.
- You can also adjust the filter level to “Moderate” or “Strict”, depending on the child’s age and your preferences.
- Once you have set up the chat filter, you can monitor your child’s chat logs to ensure that the filter is working correctly.
- If you find any words or phrases that are not being blocked by the filter, you can report them to Roblox.
It’s important to note that the filter is not foolproof and that it can’t catch everything. Therefore it’s important to monitor your child’s activity and have open communication with them about online safety.
Use parental controls
Roblox offers several parental controls that can be used to help keep children safe while playing the game. Here is how to use parental controls on Roblox:
- Log in to the child’s account on Roblox.
- Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen to access the settings.
- Click on the “Privacy” tab.
- Scroll down to the “Account Restrictions” section and turn on the options that you want to use.
- You can restrict chat, private messaging, and game invites.
- You can also restrict the types of games that the child can play by setting a content rating filter.
- To set up a PIN, you can click on the “Account Info” tab, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on the “Set a PIN” button.
- Once a PIN is set, you can use it to lock or unlock specific features of the account, such as in-game purchases or chat settings.
- To monitor your child’s activity, you can click on the “View Activity” button on the “Account Info” tab. This will show you a log of all the games the child has played and the chat messages they have sent or received.
- You can also set up email notifications to be alerted if your child’s account is accessed from a new device or location.
Set time limits
Setting up time limits for a child using the internet is crucial in ensuring their safety and well-being. The internet is a powerful tool that can provide endless opportunities for learning, entertainment, and socialisation, but it also poses potential risks, such as exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and addiction. By setting up time limits for internet use, parents can help children maintain a healthy balance between the benefits and risks of the internet.
One of the most important reasons to set up time limits for internet use is to help children manage their screen time. Excessive screen time has been linked to various negative health outcomes such as sleep disturbances, eye strain, and obesity. By setting up time limits, parents can help children develop healthy habits and ensure that they are getting enough physical activity, social interaction, and rest.
Another important reason to set up time limits is to help children prioritise their responsibilities and activities. The internet can be incredibly distracting, and children can easily get caught up in games, social media, or videos for hours on end. By setting up time limits, parents can help children focus on their homework, chores, and other responsibilities and ensure that they are using their time effectively.
Keeping Your Child Safe on Roblox
I hope this article has been useful in ways to keep your child safe when using online games such as Roblox. With careful use of parental controls and ensuring you keep a regular check-in with your child, they can enjoy all the fun Roblox has to offer and minimise the dangers that come with exposure to strangers.