Roblox is a big part of many children’s lives. For some, it’s a creative playground. For others, it’s where they socialise, build worlds, or relax after a busy day. For many neurodivergent children in particular, Roblox can offer connection, structure, and a sense of control that’s harder to find elsewhere.

Like any online platform, Roblox works best when adults understand how it functions, what safety tools are available, and how to know how to support children to use it confidently. This guide focuses on practical, preventative steps, including recent changes to Roblox, so parents, carers, and professionals feel informed, confident, and equipped.

Roblox Safety Tools – The Basics Worth Knowing

Roblox includes a range of parental controls that allow families to shape the experience around their child’s age and needs. These settings can be accessed via the Settings menu (the gear icon ⚙️ in the top-right corner of the account).

Some of the most useful options include:

Account Restrictions (Under 13s)

This setting limits access to a curated range of age-appropriate games and automatically applies stricter filters. It’s a strong starting point for younger players.

Chat Controls

Parents can decide who their child can communicate with, or choose to turn chat off completely. This can be especially helpful for younger children, or for those who find online communication difficult.

Parental PIN

A PIN can be added to prevent children from changing safety settings without adult involvement.

Two-Step Verification

This adds an extra layer of security to protect accounts from unauthorised access.

Spending Controls

Roblox doesn’t currently offer in-platform spending limits, but purchases can be managed through device-level parental controls such as the App Store, Google Play, or console settings.

 

Safety Looks Different at Different Ages

Early Primary (Ages 5-7)

At this age, children are curious and enthusiastic, but have very little awareness of online risk. Close supervision and simple, consistent boundaries work best here.

• Use account restrictions
• Turn chat off
• Play together where possible

Late Primary (Ages 8-11)

Children start to want more independence, but still benefit from structure and support. Peer influence and unsuitable games tend to be the main concerns.

• Keep chat limited to friends or switched off
• Check recently played games together
• Use time limits on devices

Secondary (Ages 11-16)

Teenagers value autonomy, but may encounter more complex social situations online. At this stage, open communication often matters more than strict rules alone.

• Keep chat settings intentional and reviewed
• Encourage use of block and report tools
• Keep conversations regular and judgement-free

 

Age Verification – What It Is and Why It Matters

Roblox has introduced age verification to help apply age-appropriate features more consistently across the platform. The aim is to ensure that children and young people experience Roblox in ways that match their age, while giving families clearer control over communication and content.

 

Why This Change Has Been Made

The updates are designed to reduce unwanted interactions between younger users and older players and to make sure features and content match a child’s age. Using age information, Roblox can:

• Limit chat and social features to age-appropriate groups
• Apply content filters automatically
• Make it clearer which games and experiences are suitable for different ages

What Age Verification Means

Age verification is optional but helps Roblox apply these age-appropriate features more accurately.

• If you don’t verify: Accounts remain more restricted. Voice chat may be unavailable, and content filters stay stricter by default. For many families, this is a reasonable choice, especially for younger teens or children who prefer simpler online spaces.
• If you do verify: Some additional features may become available, but parental controls still apply. Nothing is unlocked automatically. Age verification does not remove safeguards; it simply helps Roblox apply the right rules.

Age Groups on Roblox

• Under 9s: Accounts are heavily restricted. Chat is mostly off, content filters are stricter, and many social features are unavailable unless a parent enables them.
• Ages 9 to 12:Children can access more games, but chat and social interaction remain limited and are typically restricted to others in the same age range. Parental controls remain important.
• Ages 13 to 17:Teenagers can access more features if age verified, including broader chat options. Chat is still age-banded, meaning interaction is generally limited to users within a similar age group. Safeguards and parental controls continue to apply.
• 18 and over: Adults can access the full range of platform features available to their age group, including experiences marked for mature audiences. However, chat and communication remain separated by age, meaning adults do not see or interact with chat from younger users, and vice versa.

A Note on Age-Banded Chat

Roblox’s age-banded chat settings are designed to reduce unwanted interactions and apply communication limits more consistently. However, like all online safety measures, they are not a complete fail-safe.

We still recommend that parents remain aware of how chat is being used and continue to check in regularly. Age-based restrictions are a helpful layer of protection, but they don’t replace ongoing supervision or conversations about online boundaries.

This is especially important for children who spend a lot of time socialising through in-game chat.

How This Affects Families

Roblox can still be used without age verification, but chat and social features are now largely unavailable unless an account is verified.

For most families, this does not require major action beyond checking settings and understanding how communication works. For younger or neurodivergent children, these restrictions can help create calmer, more manageable spaces.

Latest Communication Changes and Mentoring Sessions

Roblox’s recent updates to age verification and communication settings are now live and affect how in-game chat works across the platform.

Chat is now more tightly age-banded, meaning users generally only see and interact with chat from others within a similar age range unless specific permissions or settings are in place. These changes are intended to reduce unwanted interactions and apply age-based restrictions more consistently.

It’s important to note that, while age-banded chat is a helpful safety measure, it is not a complete fail-safe. As with all online communication, we continue to recommend that parents remain aware of how chat is being used and check in regularly with their child. Safety tools work best when combined with ongoing adult involvement and open conversations.

How This Affects Mentoring Sessions

In some mentoring sessions, mentees may previously have relied heavily on Roblox’s in-game chat as part of communication or collaborative play. Under the updated system, chat access and visibility may be more limited depending on the account’s age verification and settings.

In some cases, a mentor can be added as a trusted connection, which may allow communication to continue within Roblox’s rules. However, parents should be aware that:

• Mentors may not always be able to see in-game chat between players

• This can limit direct oversight of chat during a session

Where in-game chat is restricted or less visible, mentors adapt by using other appropriate communication methods, such as voice chat, gameplay cues, or agreed alternatives. These adjustments allow sessions to continue effectively while remaining within platform safeguards.

These changes do not prevent MindJam mentoring sessions from taking place. Instead, they may slightly change how communication happens within the game, with mentors continuing to prioritise engagement, support, and clear boundaries.

If parents have any questions about how chat or age verification settings apply to their child’s account, feel free to ask your child’s mentor who will be happy to talk this through with you..

 

Practical Ways to Support Safer Play

One of the most effective things parents can do is stay involved, not as watchdogs, but as allies.

• Talk regularly, not just when something goes wrong
• Practise what to do if something feels uncomfortable
• Normalise leaving a game or blocking someone
• Check in gently, using questions like “Which games have you enjoyed recently?”

Pro tip 1 – play it yourself.
Making your own Roblox account and exploring the platform helps demystify it. Playing games like Grow a Garden or 99 Nights in the Forest with your child turns Roblox into a shared experience rather than a hidden one.

Pro tip 2 – use private servers where possible.
Many Roblox games offer private servers, allowing children to play only with people they invite. This can reduce unwanted interactions and make play calmer, which is especially helpful for children who find busy servers overwhelming. Private servers work best when used for favourite or regularly played games, as not every game supports them.

 

How MindJam Helps

At MindJam, we work with young people who use platforms like Roblox every day. Our mentors support children and families by:

• Modelling safe, positive online play
• Helping young people build confidence around boundaries
• Supporting parents to understand platforms without judgement
• Creating calmer, more structured gaming spaces for neurodivergent children

Our aim is not to take the fun out of gaming, but to help children, parents, and schools feel confident and supported.

You can explore our Online Safety Resources or learn more about our mentoring services to see how we work with families.

These changes are designed to give parents clearer control over how Roblox is used. For MindJam sessions, nothing changes. MindJam mentors continue to use appropriate settings and support young people within clear boundaries. If parents have questions about the new restrictions, we’re always happy to talk them through.

For more gaming safety tips, guides and resources visit: https://mindjam.org.uk/discover/gaming-safety/