TL;DR
- The Concept: Roblox isn’t a single game; it’s a platform hosting millions of user-created experiences.
- The Currency: Robux is the lifeblood of the platform. It’s real money converted into digital credits to buy "skins," "game passes," and "limiteds."
- The Risk: Predatory "gacha" mechanics (gambling-lite), social pressure to not look like a "noob," and sophisticated phishing scams.
- The Reward: Potential for learning game design, basic Lua coding, and digital entrepreneurship.
- Quick Links:
Think of Roblox less like a video game and more like a digital mall where your kid and their friends hang out. It’s a platform where anyone can build a game and anyone can play it. This is why you’ll see your 8-year-old jumping from a high-stakes Murder Mystery 2 match to a peaceful session of Welcome to Bloxburg in the span of ten minutes.
It’s the wild west of content. Some of it is brilliant, some of it is "brain rot" (hello, 50 different versions of Skibidi Toilet obbys), and some of it is designed specifically to get your kid to click a big green button that costs 400 Robux.
In the physical world, kids express themselves through their shoes or the stickers on their water bottles. In Roblox, they do it through their "avatar."
If your kid's avatar is wearing the default free gear, they are a "bacon hair" or a "noob." In the brutal social hierarchy of elementary and middle school, looking "mid" or "Ohio" (which is current kid-speak for weird or cringey) is a social death sentence. Robux allows them to buy clothes, hair, and accessories to fit in or stand out.
Beyond aesthetics, Robux buys Game Passes. These are essentially "VIP" perks within specific games. Want to drive the fast car in Brookhaven RP? That’s a game pass. Want a legendary neon unicorn in Adopt Me!? You’re likely going to need Robux to speed up the process.
Learn more about why kids feel social pressure to spend in games
The current exchange rate is roughly 80 Robux to $1 USD, though it gets slightly cheaper if you buy in bulk or have a monthly subscription.
When your kid asks for 1,000 Robux, they are asking for about $12.50. It sounds like play money, but the platform is designed to make you forget that. Prices are often set at odd intervals—like 399 Robux—to make the mental math harder.
This is a monthly subscription. It gives a monthly Robux allowance and, more importantly, unlocks the ability to trade items. This is where the "Business School" aspect kicks in, but also where the most danger lies.
Is Roblox actually teaching your kid anything? It can.
- Game Development: If your kid is using Roblox Studio, they are learning the basics of 3D environmental design and Lua scripting. This is a massive step up from just playing. It’s comparable to learning logic in Scratch but with a much higher ceiling.
- Entrepreneurship: Creators can actually "DevEx" (Developer Exchange) their earned Robux back into real USD. While the odds of your kid becoming a millionaire developer are slim, learning how to price a digital item or market a game "obby" is a legitimate skill.
- Digital Literacy: Navigating trades and spotting bad deals is a crash course in "buyer beware."
Now for the "pulling no punches" part: Roblox is home to some of the most predatory monetization tactics in the industry.
This game is essentially a gambling simulator for children. It uses "loot box" mechanics where kids spend Robux for a chance to get a rare pet. The bright colors and flashing lights are straight out of a Vegas casino playbook. If your kid is obsessed with this one, keep a very close eye on the credit card statement.
The "Limiteds" Market
Roblox has a secondary market for "Limited" items. These are items that Roblox stops selling, leaving players to trade them. The prices can fluctuate wildly, leading to "stock market" style obsession. It’s common for kids to get "beamed" (hacked/scammed) out of items worth hundreds of real-world dollars.
Ask our chatbot about the risks of loot boxes in kids' games
If your kid spends any time on YouTube or TikTok, they will see ads for "Free Robux Generators."
There is no such thing as free Robux.
These sites are almost always phishing scams designed to steal the account login. Once a "hacker" has the account, they trade away all the valuable items to their own account and change the password. To a 10-year-old, losing a three-year-old account with all their digital memories is devastating.
Safety Checklist:
- 2-Factor Authentication (2FA): Non-negotiable. Use an app or email.
- Parental PIN: Set a 4-digit PIN in the settings so your kid can’t change the security settings without you.
- Spend Restrictions: You can set monthly spend limits through the Roblox settings.
- Chat Settings: For younger kids (under 12), consider "Friends Only" or turning chat off entirely. The Roblox chat filters are okay, but "slenders" (older, often toxic players) find ways around them.
Instead of just saying "no" to Robux, try to turn it into a lesson on digital value.
- The "Work for It" Approach: If they want a 400 Robux skin, have them do a chore worth $5. It connects the digital pixels to real-world effort.
- The "Audit": Sit down once a month and look at what they bought. Ask, "Do you actually still use this 'Gravity Coil' or was it a waste?"
- The "Scam Test": Show them a "Free Robux" video and ask them to spot the red flags.
Ages 5-8
At this age, they shouldn't have the password to the App Store. Stick to "free" experiences and maybe a small Robux allowance for a basic avatar. Avoid games with heavy trading like Adopt Me! unless you're sitting right there.
Ages 9-12
This is the peak Roblox era. They will want to trade. This is the time to teach them about 2FA and the reality of digital scams. If they want to spend, encourage them to look at Welcome to Bloxburg which requires a one-time purchase but rewards "working" a digital job to earn in-game money.
Ages 13+
If they’re still on Roblox, they’re likely there for the community or the development side. Encourage them to download Roblox Studio and actually try to make something rather than just consuming.
Roblox isn't inherently "evil," but it is a profit-driven machine that views your child as a consumer. It can be a "Digital Business School" where they learn to code and manage a budget, or it can be an "Expensive Playground" where they learn the hard way that the house always wins.
The difference between those two outcomes is parental context. Don't just hand over the iPad; ask them to show you their favorite "obby," explain why a "Hugen" pet is so rare, and make sure that Parental PIN is locked tight.
- Check the settings: Ensure 2FA is on and a Parental PIN is set.
- Review the "Trade" history: See if your kid has been giving away items for nothing—it’s a sign of social engineering or "trust trading" scams.
- Talk about the "Noob" factor: Reassure them that they don't need a 500-Robux hat to be cool. (Though, let's be real, we all remember wanting the "cool" sneakers back in the day).
Learn more about how Robux is in fact real money
Check out our guide on alternatives to Roblox