DUBAI (Dispatches) – Several Persian Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have imposed restrictions on the popular U.S.-based gaming platform Roblox over concerns about child safety. These measures range from operational limits and partial bans to temporary suspensions while regulators review safety issues.
In Saudi Arabia, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media mandated Roblox to disable both text and voice chat features temporarily. The goal is to enhance content monitoring and improve regulatory tools to ensure a safer gaming environment for children. Roblox reportedly pledged to improve Arabic-language content moderation and user protection after discussions with Saudi authorities. Roblox is notably popular in Saudi Arabia, ranking as the second-most downloaded mobile game in 2024.
Similarly, the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority announced contacting Roblox about digital safety, especially for younger users. Changes include temporarily disabling some communication features like in-game chat, enhancing Arabic content moderation, strengthening parental controls, and adding safety features to protect children.
Other Persian Gulf countries have also taken steps against Roblox due to child safety concerns. Kuwait has temporarily blocked the platform amid complaints about “unsafe practices, online exploitation, harmful behaviors, inappropriate content, and unsafe purchasing practices.” Qatar and Oman have fully banned Roblox to safeguard children and adolescents.
Roblox is especially popular among children, with 40% of users under 13. The platform has faced criticism for child exploitation risks. In 2023 alone, over 13,000 cases of child exploitation were reported on Roblox in the U.S., including 1,200 official abuse reports. U.S. police have arrested multiple individuals linked to crimes involving Roblox users. These harms highlight significant risks to children from inappropriate content, online predators, and unsafe interactions, prompting increased regulatory scrutiny globally.