TL;DR
Roblox just underwent its biggest safety overhaul in years. As of early 2025, kids under 13 are now restricted from sending Direct Messages (DMs) to anyone who isn't a "friend," and parents can finally see who their kids are talking to via a linked account. The days of random "stranger danger" sliding into DMs are significantly curtailed, but the pressure to accept every friend request for "clout" remains.
Quick Links:
- Roblox
- How to set up Roblox parental controls
- Is Roblox safe for 7-year-olds?
- Minecraft (The classic "safer" alternative)
If you feel like Roblox is just a game where kids jump around as blocky characters, you’re only seeing about 10% of the picture. For our kids, Roblox is the mall, the playground, and the school hallway rolled into one. It’s where they go to "hang out" after soccer practice.
The social engine of Roblox runs on two things: Friend Requests and DMs.
- Friend Requests: These allow kids to see when their buddies are online and join the same "experience" (what Roblox calls games).
- DMs (Direct Messages): This is the private chat feature. Historically, this was the Wild West, but 2025 has brought some much-needed sheriffs into town.
You might notice your kid has 300 friend requests pending and they want to accept all of them. To us, that looks like 300 potential predators. To them, it’s about social capital.
In the world of "Ohio" memes and Skibidi Toilet references, having a high friend count is a status symbol. It makes them look like a "pro" or an "influencer." There’s also a practical side: many games within Roblox, like Adopt Me! or Pet Simulator 99, reward players for trading items. To get the best "pets" or "skins," you need a wide network of people to trade with.
The problem? Trading with strangers is the #1 way kids get scammed out of their hard-earned (or your hard-earned) Robux.
Roblox finally listened to the collective screaming of parents worldwide. They’ve introduced a few "no-BS" features that change how friend requests and DMs work:
1. Restricted DMs for Under-13s
Users under the age of 13 can no longer receive DMs from anyone who isn't on their friends list. Even better, Roblox has implemented "Restricted Chat" for younger users, which uses AI to filter out not just bad words, but also "PII" (Personally Identifiable Information) like addresses or phone numbers.
2. Parental Dashboard and "Trusted Connections"
You can now link your parent account to your child’s account. This doesn't mean you have to read every "u r a skibidi rizzler" message they send, but it does let you see their friend list and see who they’ve been messaging. If you see a 24-year-old "friend" you don't recognize, you can axe that connection from your own phone.
3. Content Labels
Instead of just "All Ages," Roblox now uses labels like "Minimal," "Mild," and "Restricted." These labels also dictate who can chat within those games. Check out our guide on the new Roblox safety labels
Here is the reality: Most "strangers" on Roblox are just other 9-year-olds who are equally obsessed with MrBeast. However, the "New Bestie" can quickly turn into a "Bad Influence" or a "Scammer."
The real danger isn't always a "predator" in the cinematic sense; it’s the off-platform migration. A common tactic is for someone to befriend a child in Roblox and then say, "Hey, this chat filter sucks, let’s talk on Discord or Snapchat."
This is the red flag. Once they move to Discord, the Roblox safety filters are gone. That is where the actual "Stranger Danger" lives.
Ages 6-9: The "Lockdown" Phase
At this age, kids don't need DMs. Period.
- Settings: Set "Who can message me" to "No one."
- Friend Requests: They should only friend kids they know in real life. If they want to add a friend, they have to ask you first so you can verify it's actually "Leo from school" and not "Leo2025_Scammer."
- Recommended Games: Stick to Royal High or Bloxburg (which requires a small Robux fee to enter, acting as a slight barrier to entry for trolls).
Ages 10-12: The "Learner's Permit" Phase
This is when the social pressure ramps up.
- Settings: Allow DMs from "Friends Only."
- The Talk: Explain that "Online Friends" are different from "Real Life Friends." They can play together, but they never, ever share photos, last names, or move the convo to another app.
- Monitoring: Use the Screenwise guide to Roblox parental controls to link your accounts. Check the friend list once a week.
Ages 13+: The "Trust but Verify" Phase
At 13, Roblox opens up more. They can access "13+" games which might have more violence or "crude" humor (think South Park lite).
- Settings: They will likely want open DMs. If you’ve built a foundation of digital literacy, this is okay, provided you still have "Parental Privileges" active to see the volume of their interactions.
If your child is begging to accept friend requests from people they don't know, ask them why. Usually, the answer is: "They have a really cool skin" or "They are a high level in Blox Fruits."
Explain to them that a "Friend" in Roblox is basically a "Follower." It’s okay to have followers, but it’s not okay to give followers personal information. Treat it like a public performance, not a private conversation.
Don't go in hot. If you start with "I'm deleting Roblox because it's brain rot," they will just hide it from you. Try these:
- "Hey, I saw Roblox updated their safety settings. Let's look at your friend list together and see if there are any accounts you don't actually play with anymore."
- "I heard some people use Roblox to trick kids into giving away their pets/Robux. Has anyone ever offered you a 'free' deal in the chat?"
- "If someone ever asks you to talk on Discord or WhatsApp, that's a huge red flag. Come tell me, and we can block them together—no trouble for you."
Roblox is a massive, complicated ecosystem. It’s not "just a game," and it’s not "pure evil." It’s a social platform that requires active parenting. The 2026 updates are a massive win for us, giving us the tools to see what’s happening without being total "cringe" helicopters.
Roblox can teach entrepreneurship (some kids make thousands of real dollars designing clothes or games), but for most, it’s just a place to hang out. Your job is to make sure the "hangout" stays in the public square and doesn't move into a dark alleyway.
- Link Your Accounts: If you haven't used the new 2025 Parental Dashboard, do it tonight. You’ll need to verify your ID to get full access, which is a pain but worth it.
- Audit the Friends List: Sit down with your kid and a bag of popcorn. Go through the list. If they can't tell you who "Skibidi_Rizzler99" is, delete them.
- Set a "No Off-Platform" Rule: Make it a "one-strike" rule. If they move a Roblox conversation to another app without permission, Roblox goes away for a week.
Check out our guide on the best Roblox alternatives for younger kids
Learn more about the "Skibidi Toilet" phenomenon