The Australian government has written to Roblox, the popular online gaming platform, demanding urgent action following reports of children being groomed and exposed to explicit content. Communications Minister Anika Wells sent a letter to the company expressing concern over 'graphic and gratuitous user-generated content,' including sexually explicit and suicidal material, as well as ongoing reports of predators targeting children.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has also notified Roblox of additional monitoring of its safety commitments, which include making accounts for users under 16 private by default and preventing adult users from contacting under-16s without parental consent. Despite Roblox's work with the commissioner throughout 2024 and 2025 to develop these measures, the minister's letter stated that 'the issues appear to persist' and described the situation as 'untenable.'
Platforms found in breach of the Online Safety Act could face fines of up to $49.5 million. The government has also asked the Classification Board to review whether the PG rating for Roblox remains appropriate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the reports 'horrendous' and said the government is prepared to do 'whatever we need to do' on the advice of the eSafety Commissioner.
Roblox is not included in the government's social media ban for under-16s, despite being the most popular gaming app among Australian children aged four to 18. New rules focused on age-restricted material, such as pornography and self-harm, come into effect on March 9 and will apply to Roblox. The platform must also prohibit non-consensual sharing of intimate images, grooming, and sexual extortion.
