Roblox’s New Safety Features for Kids Explained | What Parents Need to Know

If you are a parent wondering whether @Roblox is safe for kids, this conversation is a must watch.

In this episode, Donna Moala sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, Roblox’s Global Head of Parental Advocacy, to unpack Roblox’s biggest child safety update yet,  including the launch of Roblox Kids (ages 5–8) and Roblox Select (ages 9–15).

Australia is the FIRST country to receive these new safety features, designed to help parents confidently navigate the digital world with their children.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome Back Elizabeth

00:16 Why Roblox Safety Matters

01:51 May 19 Launch Overview

02:36 Roblox Kids Ages 5-8

03:45 Ratings Chat And Controls

05:01 Roblox Select Ages 9-15

05:56 Digital Conscious Parenting

11:32 Age Checks And Defaults

16:06 Vetting Developers Content

17:53 Community Feedback Next Steps

18:43 Australia First Wrap Up

This is a balanced, honest conversation about raising children in the digital age, without fear, shame, or panic.

Whether you are parenting toddlers, tweens, or teens, this episode will help you better understand:

✔️ Roblox safety

✔️ Screen time boundaries

✔️ Online gaming safety

✔️ Social media and technology for kids

✔️ Conscious digital parenting

🎙 Hosted by Donna Moala

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, Global Head of Parental Advocacy at @roblox 

Listen Part 1: Roblox Safety and Parenting with Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1733060/episodes/18961061

🎙️If this conversation helped you, subscribe, share with another parent, and join us as we continue navigating modern parenting together.

Follow Roblox: 

Website: https://www.roblox.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roblox/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roblox

Twitter/X: https://x.com/roblox

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@roblox

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/roblox

Follow Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov: 

Website: https://www.digitalparentingcoach.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmilovidov/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigiParentCoach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digiparentcoach/

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Donna Moala 
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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello and welcome to this week's episode on the Parenting Collective Podcast. I'm super excited to be joined again by the incredible Dr. Elizabeth Melividov. She's the global head of parental advocacy at Roblox. Yes, the big Roblox. Roblox, we had part one, so you want to go back and listen to that about the safety and security around protecting our kiddos and talking to parents on the ground to hear what they're wanting for the change that's about to happen, continuing to happen. So for a really exciting discussion that we're going to have about the brand new Roblox safety updates launching here in Australia for the first in the time in the world, we'll be in Australia on May 19th. So in this episode, we are going to dive into the new Roblox Kids account, which is from a range of five to eight year olds, and so many strict restrictions on there. Amazing. And then Roblox Select, which is for accounts for nine to 15 year olds. So we talk about what the changes actually mean for the families with the younger children. So, you know, as we discussed and we know, and myself being a parent, I know how many parents feel really overwhelmed trying to navigate screens, the digital world, gaming, any online connection while still wanting your kids to be safe, connected, and everything sort of age appropriate, but still be able to be on some of these platforms because we can't just get rid of it. The world is not going to just go back to where it was. It's forever evolving, and we need to walk beside them. We need to be feeling safe that when they're on a platform of some kind, of whatever that is, but particularly Robux, that they are going to be safe and have fun. Today we're breaking it down in a really practical and supportive way with Dr. Elizabeth. So we're going to be talking about the safety, age-appropriate gaming, the healthy boundaries, connections, and all of that around the informed information that's going to be released on these new age-appropriate accounts. So I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Please leave comments, ask away. Everything's going to be in the show notes if needed. We'll speak to you next week. Elizabeth, Dr. Elizabeth, welcome back.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

I'm so excited to have you here again. Oh my goodness. No, Donna, I am more excited to be back. Thank you so much for inviting me. I enjoyed our conversation last time. So let's do it again this time.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Spread the news, don't we? Particularly here in Australia. Because, like I was just saying to you, the conversation around Roblox is big and positive and all sorts of things. But I think the truth needs to come out of the safety and the levels that you go to. And I was thrilled to be part of this. So let's really deep dive into it. So, you know, coming back of the same conversation of families really trying to navigate the digital world, the negativity that we've heard about roblox we've talked about before, but really the lengths of what Roblox is doing behind the scenes as a parental advocacy, as you are, and what's going to be launched on the 19th of May to protect our kiddos even more. So the age-based accounts, I'd love for you to deep dive into that for us today.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

Absolutely. So I think, yes, as we mentioned last time, right? So Roblox has created my role, which is Global Head of Parental Advocacy. So as I told you before, I am the voice of parents, and I'm just so excited to have this role and to be that sort of bridge. So one of the things that is super cool is that with our parent council and our extended parent champions, you know, we really take back what parents have said. And parents have told us, as you have you mentioned yourself, you get the good with the bad. And they've told us lots of things. And one of them was that really they just wanted a place where they knew that their kids were going to be safe, safe, safe, you know, and they didn't want to know think their kids are playing with strangers or chatting with strangers. And based on that, and you know, and the actual parent council members sitting there saying, you know, we would love to have like a kind of curated safe space of topics that we know with developers that have been vetted. And that's what's coming out on May 19th in Australia first. So I think you guys are so lucky to get this before we roll out to other countries. But basically, it's this breakdown of Roblox kids. Um, so for children who are five to eight, and then Roblox select for children who are nine to fifteen. And so all sorts of little different things there, but we can go into that in a second. But like I said, I just want parents to understand that this is a result of your voices being heard. So keep them coming too.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

Oh, I love it. I love it, absolutely. Yep, on the ground. Because we're we're living it, aren't we? Us parents. Yeah. So yeah, so you do hear, and yeah, it was only last month that we had our first conversation. So, you know, so much in-depth conversations around it. So, yeah, let's deep dive.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Let's deep dive. So, um, with Roblox kids, what is so cool is I said that's from five years old to eight, great age because they really want to get started. They want to see what their other friends are doing. And so, of course, I tell all the parents, please link those accounts so that way you can guide your children. For the older children, it can be a little bit different. Um, I would say older. I how how old are your children again?

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Yeah, um 21, 18, and 15. But um, so yeah, old as I that horse is bolted as we talk about. But what I love what you're creating here, and it's a bit like what we talked about with the over 16 um uh regulations that have come here in Australia, it's not going to help me now with my 15-year-old. It's just not, but it's the upcoming generations in the next few years, what you're creating is amazing. So the children at you know, five to eight have the parents right there beside them and all this create what you've created.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Exactly. And we love that idea. And I also want to mention that even though the parents are right there beside them for something that's really cool, and I'll mention in a second, it's just our learning hub. So that way parents realize they don't have to have a Roblox account to get some of the educational materials. But let me go back. So we were talking about, you know, the five to eight. And so those games, they have to pass a three-step process, right? So we're just really making sure that this content is what parents would want their kids to see. They have to have their maturity ratings, which are minimum and mild. And I I will tell you the truth, Donna, some of the parents were talking about, you know, these maturity ratings, it's kind of confusing. So the good news is that we will be shifting in September, if I'm not mistaken, to the international rating system, which is very similar to what you use in Australia with the Australian Classification Board. So it will be the same thing that parents understand. Chat is off by default. So for the five gates, no more. Don't even think about it. Yeah, don't even think about it. And of course, we still have their peripheral controls. And something that I find so cool that some of my parents have talked about is the fact that even the screen is a different color. So that means you can be yeah, you can be in the kitchen and looking over and saying, hey, what are they playing? And if you see there on the blue screen, you know they're in Roblox kids. You can feel confident that they're looking at created great content. If you see them on the black screen, you're not gonna freak out. You're gonna say, Hey, what's that? Are they on Roblox Select, which is for the kids that are nine to 15? And also regular Roblox is also with this black background. Um, but again, let me so I just mentioned Roblox Kids, Roblox Select. I'll tell you quickly about that. So the same thing, the games have to go through that three-step review process. They have the maturity ratings, but this time it's not minimum mild, it's moderate. So, you know, a little bit different. And the child is gradually introduced into the different safeguards, and parental controls have been extended up to 15. So your 15-year-old just got out of it.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Yeah. Oh, look, like I said, it's okay. We've done it now. But everybody else that I'm supporting and listening, they've got all this great amazing stuff to protect their kiddos.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Yeah. And they just they have to realize that it's there and to dig in there and and you know, take a look, take a peek. And honestly, Donna, I want them to know that you're available and I'm available. Uh if there's anything that they don't understand. So let's let's answer those questions for them so that way we can, you know, make them feel empowered and realize that they can do this. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

I love it. And like I said, every time we've we've met up, I've met with the team because I'm so interested in it. Because again, reflection of some of the, like we said, bad and good when people make those comments. I'm very much of the belief that, and we talked about this in part one, you can cover your eyes as a parent and cover your ears and keep them in a cotton ball nest and go, nope, you're not having this and you're not having that. Okay, that's your prerogative and there's no judgment. It's not the world we live in. It is not the world we live in. And unless you're homeschooling and living in the bush somewhere, uh, they're going to be seeing things when they're not under our care, right? And so the thing is with what I'm loving about Roblox and getting to understand you all and the team where I talk about, is that's really building up from the get-go, like from a parent who's a little bit interested into the child talking about it, of having it all structured. You know, it's it's actually sounds really easy for the parent to understand it too, and not just to be watching them all the time.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Yes. And you just, you know, oh my gosh. Okay, now you've got me so excited, Donna. You said the words that I love. Okay, we're going back to our conscious parenting, digital conscious parenting. Yeah. So this is exactly right because you're going to be giving your child the skills that they need. So when you're not looking over their shoulder, they know what to do. But when you can look over their shoulder, you need to keep guiding them and keep talking to them. And, you know, this is with Roblox or any other, you know, online activity. So I really want, you know, your community to understand, yes, I'm here for Roblox, but I am your parental advocate for all things AI, internet, technology devices, because as you said, we this is the world. This is the world that we live in. So yeah. So let's upskill them, let's help them, and let's make sure that they know make sure that they know to come to us if they do have the issue, if they do have a problem. And and this is something that a lot of parents might not be thinking about is that even if you lock down your device, it's gonna be that other kid, that other neighbor, or the fun cousin who's gonna be talking and showing them something. So even if we have Roblox kids locked down five to eight, you might have that cousin who says, Oh, look what I found. So teach your kids some strategies about, you know, oh, you know, I'm I'm not allowed to look at that one yet, but later on I can.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

Totally. And look, I don't know if I use this in part one, but I do use it a lot. Parentings like whack-a-mole, you know, particularly with whack-a-mole, you know, when they pop up and whack them down and we're like, So where is going to pop up next, especially with the social media and and and and the way the digital world that we live in, we cannot pretend that we can protect our children forever with it. And my concern is, and this is just my concern working with so many families, is that if we completely restrict it until 16 and then all of a sudden they have full access to everything, how are they going to navigate that? Are the parents going to understand it? Like, I again that's a bit probably overdramatic, but I'm just like, you know what, these kids need to be educated in the world that we live in. And so do us parents or a parent in the family, a caregiver.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

Agreed. A thousand percent agreed. And you know, one of the things that I so admire about Julie Enmund Grant, your e-safety commissioner, also a California gal, is that, you know, even though you do have your social media ban in Australia, I mean, she knew that there was gonna have to be tweaks and adjustments. But I think what has been brilliant about it, Donna, is that it's gotten this conversation going. Yeah. In all around because, you know, Julie has been there like me for uh 15 years more doing this, and parents really weren't listening. I mean, you have a great e-safety commissioner website with parent guides on roadblocks on along the how many parents go, how many parents go to the websites, you know, and it's until it's too late.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

And you know, and and not mean, and again, there's no judgment on any parent. We're all doing the best we can, but again, going through what we've for myself been through with no real regulation as much as what it has been in the last five, six years and currently, it was it we're all sort of again scrambling of how to work it out. But now there is so many great boundaries and really safe, kind, firm boundaries that still allows them to, you know, learn. Yeah, and yes, be yeah, a little bit adapted to things before they leave home and I haven't been allowed to be on anything. I don't know if that happens these days.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

Right. No, but Donat, think about this. Do you remember going to like the kids' parties and you could always realize which child was not allowed to have any sugar or any lots? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

My dad. It was terrible. And I don't I don't know if we talked about this in part one, but my dad was like that, and I grew up in the country, but then when I left home at 17, I ate all the crap I could in my, I put on like 10 kilos because I'd never had never allowed to have it. And it was I so I just ate it all, and it's the same. Thank you, Dada. It's the same, yes. You know, like it's about nutrition. Yes, yes. But that's just about the balance, but same thing with that, you know, it's the same with the digital world, and and again, we're talking about Roblox, but it's not being frightened, you know, figure out, be educated. And this is the thing, people that say all these negative things about anything, they're I again not trying to judge, they're not very educated in it, you know. And if I I will say they don't know, they just don't know. It sounds nicer, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00 13:07

That sounds very Australian. Yeah, it sounds nicer. Yeah, because they because you can be super educated and we just we just don't know.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

Yeah, totally. And that's the thing. I would, you know, I'm so thrilled to be able to share you here on my my platform. But again, if it wasn't something You're doing the work, yeah, totally. But if it wasn't something I was aligned with, no matter how big Roblox is, I wouldn't have been able to have these conversations because it's I'm just you know machine. We're fans, yes, we're fans of each other, which is great. So yeah, so back onto there, so we've got five to eight, which is the kids, which is the blue screen, no absolutely defaulting to mild, no chat at all, and so many restrictions on there, which is great. The other thing that, again, correct me if I'm wrong, that if you do choose not to get your facial age, that's age check, yeah. You can still go on Roblox, but you will be in that kid's undeniable, you will be in that as an adult with no chat. Exactly. You'd have to show ID or you have to do age recognition to get into those groups, which is like what everyone's talking about, you know.

SPEAKER_00 14:09

This is what isn't this what people wanted, you know, to be in the correct category. So we we've given it to you. So exactly right. So if you and but what's also cool, Donna, I don't know if you realize this part, is that Australians have done a really good job with age checking, you know. So 70%, yeah, 70% have age checked. So I'm just like, wow.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

And I think that's where I'm feeling the change in tide too, is like what I was doing for the last 10 years, struggling to understand with my kids, getting through the other side, now educating and being around families, these young families want to do the right thing. You give it to them clearly and easily, they want to protect their children. Um that's amazing. 70% is huge.

SPEAKER_00 14:50

It's really huge. But it's just as you said, you give it to them clearly, uh simply. And that's something that we're still working on, still ongoing, you know, trying to figure out how to get the messaging out and even asking the parent council, parent council members what resonates for you and in your area, because let's not forget Roblox is global. So we have to, you know, figure out all of these things for the different areas. But yes, so so far I think the Australian parents have done a great job. Great job.

SPEAKER_01 15:15

And I do feel like that shift lock uh, like I was saying. And again, exciting that it will be launched first here on the 19th of May in Australia. So we are very lucky for that. So definitely want to talk about that. So the next select is nine to 15. So introduction to chat a little bit, like just like I said, moderate.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

Exactly. And so this makes sense because this is kind of like your child's development, right? We have a child developmental psychologist, you know, we are really looking at why this is more appropriate to have content that is specific for those little brains and that you know adapts as you go up. Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

So the other question that I had, and I'm I'm sure you'll be able to answer it, when it's being launched, it's going to be a little bit like the social media bands here. If you're already on Roblox, your child's already on Roblox and hasn't done a facial recognition or ID, you can still choose not to do that because you that's your just choice. But that child, if they're 10, will not be able to go into that next group. They will have to stay into that five to eight or five to eight or nine. Yep. And the default group, yes, robot kids. Yes. But if they've been already facially recognized, they'll go into the correct group age appropriate.

SPEAKER_00 16:22

Is that right? Exactly. Yes. And I also want to reassure parents that if for any reason the facial age estimation is off because it is, you know, within a year or two, you can't go back in into the dashboard and edit it. And edit it, yeah. So I mean Which is then on us, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 16:39

As parents, you know, it sounds like what what I'm loving is you Roblox is doing the best they can, the best they actually can, but you haven't, you cannot control every facet of every family. So then that's on us as parents to be like, right, I've given us this. How do we work it easily and to the best to keep our kids safe?

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Exactly. But that's why this type of partnership that we have between, you know, Roblox and the parenting community, this is huge because this keeps the information going back and forth. And I would even say that it's even bigger than you and I, Donna. You know, I think, you know, for our next call. Not you, yeah, for me and you and for our next call, we should like have like e-safety commissioner. We should have uh these are the links because it's all of us as a community, educators, bring in a teacher, let them talk about how Roblox is, you know, just expanding in the classroom because so many things done. I'm giving you just a whole schedule of podcast ideas.

SPEAKER_01 17:39

Is actually asking listeners to give their questions in and literally having uh you know podcaster answering questions or something. I don't do it that yeah, yeah, let's do it.

SPEAKER_00 17:49

But for there, I'm also gonna make sure I have one of our super tech people with me of Total Product Specialist, just because you say deep dive and it's like I I know how to use it and how to plan and everything else, but it's like it's deep dive for carry.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

You're deep diving for me, that's what I mean.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

You know, like I deep dive into digital parenting. Yeah, that's my subject matter expertise. So let's go.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

Let's go. And the other, so the other thing then is so Roblox Select is nine to 15, and then Roblox um normal is 16 and up. Still very vetted. I was getting information which is really interesting, which I didn't really understand, is the developers of the games, uh not part of Roblox, but the vetting system that comes in with that. So there's lots of vetting that comes in all the time in that space and then through to the younger ages. So that it's not just someone's uploading things and anyone can see it. There's lots of ways that Roblox vets the developers of these games.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

Well, you know, not the games, correct?

SPEAKER_01 18:46

The way I'm gonna do that.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Yeah, no, you paraphrased it perfectly. And I think that's something that's important for parents to know because I think some of the issues that they might have had, some of the challenges, was the fact that it was just all this user-generated content on Roblox. And they're like, who's doing it? Is that correct? Of course, there's still going to be user-generated content, but right now, if you're looking at Roblox Kids and Roblox Select and it's gone through this, you know, uh review process, this tier process, we're making sure that you know you're getting the age appropriate, developmentally appropriate content for children five to eight, nine to fifteen, at least what we think. But you as parents have you have the agency to say, oh, my 14-year-old can look at stuff that's on regular Roblox and you can, you know, change the parental controls. You can do it.

SPEAKER_01 19:30

Oh, yes, they can. And again, we keep saying about how, again, I love sharing the news of how much Roblox puts into this and having you there to be the advocacy for parents for people on the ground. So um, so thank you so much for sharing that today. I mean, there's it's going to be so exciting for me to share all of that. Is there anything else that you would like to share with the different accounts? Just I mean, it's just doubling on the safety, which we were talking about in part one as well. Go back to listen to that if people haven't listened to part one.

SPEAKER_00 19:56

Yeah, yeah. No, I'm sitting here trying to think if there was anything, but I I really would say for parents, I mean, this is this is technology, right? Things are going to keep changing. We're going to keep innovating because that's our world. But I would really encourage all of your parents to keep talking to each other and to keep talking to you, because that's the best way to learn. You know, there might be a little trick that another parent has learned on Roblox that you can share. And so keep that out there and then keep us informed. Let us know, you know, the good and the not so great, because that way you can work on it and fix it. And so that I'm counting on you, Donna. I'm counting on you.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

And you know, constructive criticism, isn't it? We've got to do the best we can when we're on these platforms and you're a critical friend. Yeah. It's, you know, we have uh you want the feedback, both positive and not so, but that's okay because we learn from it. Um exactly.

SPEAKER_00 20:44

So I'm and again, I want to just look sorry, Donna, I was just gonna say one more thing. I also just really think that it's very cool that Australia does get this first, May 19th, and that we're gonna roll out later. And and that's because you're the country is already a leader in online PC. And so, and I think that parents, you know, that give yourself a pat on the back and and let's keep going.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

Well, I think so too. And you know, like I love the conversation. I love the conversation, and and this is you know, like the knowledge, knowledge is power, like we could keep talking about. But yeah, so many wonderful things to come, and I can't wait to share them and yeah, watch this space. But yeah, thanks for your time today. Absolutely. Dr. Elizabeth, and we'll speak to you soon. You soon, Donna. See you soon. Bye-bye. So if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave me a rating and review. I love reading all of your messages. So shoot me a DM over on Instagram. It is parentingcollective.au. I also offer a free 15 minute, no obligation phone chat. If you'd like to book one, head over to my website at www.parentingcollective.com.au and request one there. So try to remember to be kind to yourself and always know you're doing the best you can every day, no matter what your day is looking like. Until next time, much love.