An independent regulator has determined that despite recent updates, Roblox continues to expose children to risks from predatory adults. The Australian eSafety Commissioner’s review identifies critical gaps in the platform’s protections for its predominantly under-16 user base—issues Roblox must address within three months. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/roblox-still-allows-predators-to-contact-children-says-regulator/))
What the Regulator Found
Testing by eSafety revealed four major vulnerabilities currently present on Roblox. First, adults can send connection requests to young users without needing parental or caregiver consent. Second, both children and adults can independently view and reply to forum posts outside of actual games, again without parental approval. Third, children’s connections are publicly visible to anyone on the platform. Fourth, even apparently innocuous profile details—like account names, avatar images, interest lists, and number of connections—are viewable by all users, with no way for children or guardians to restrict this. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/roblox-still-allows-predators-to-contact-children-says-regulator/))
Roblox’s Commitments Going Forward
In response, Roblox has agreed to a slate of stronger safety measures. It will block adults from reaching out to unknown children without explicit parental permission. Children’s accounts will become private by default. Reporting tools will be updated to clearly inform users of complaint resolutions. And Roblox will engage an independent third-party to audit how well its safety systems perform, including assessing its age-estimation approaches. All of these changes are to be implemented within three months. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/roblox-still-allows-predators-to-contact-children-says-regulator/))
The scale of Roblox’s user base underlines the urgency. The platform claims over 380 million active users globally, most of whom are younger than 16. That vast population means design decisions have huge implications for child safety online. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/roblox-still-allows-predators-to-contact-children-says-regulator/))
This isn’t the first time Roblox has been called out for safety concerns. The platform has previously faced scrutiny over content moderation, chat filters, and how parental controls are structured. These latest findings suggest its existing safeguards are falling short of what regulators and parents expect in terms of protecting minors from unwelcome contact. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/roblox-still-allows-predators-to-contact-children-says-regulator/))
Roblox’s recognition of these gaps, and its commitment to overhaul privacy defaults and strengthen oversight, marks a significant step. In three months, promised changes will reveal whether the company can match safety expectations with actionable technical and policy improvements. For parents, guardians, and regulators alike, this will be a moment to see if Roblox can truly enforce boundaries, limit exposure, and provide transparency in user protections. ([9to5mac.com](https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/20/roblox-still-allows-predators-to-contact-children-says-regulator/))
