Roblox & Minecraft

[quackhandle]

So mini-qh (now 7yo, he was a baby when I last checked! ) had mentioned Roblox a few times and last time we visited grand parents he was playing it under supervision by older cousin.

He then asked to have it on his kindle so I did some research and found that it is basically a paedo's paradise, no security, can't lock the chat features down, you can create porn/violent images on it, the articles i read weren't good reading.

So now looking at Minecraft (I have never played it, I don't own any console as I know how addictive the games are, and my Chess addiction is bad enough), so is Minecraft a lot safer? The bit's I've read seem to suggest so.

TIA

qh

[ChimpMaster]

My kids play both.

Minecraft has less social interaction so is probably 'safer' but even with Roblox I've not encountered any issues yet. Roblox does have a lot more of a social aspect so yes you would have to check it more often and ensure your kids are genuinely playing with other kids safely. My 3 kids tend to play in small groups amongst themselves.

[BrilloPad]

Both my lads play them both. Never any issues.

If it helps, my elder lad is a minecraft mod - http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...ble-child.html

I deliberately let my children be exposed to social sites unsupervised with clear warnings about what to do if things go wrong.

So far only one issue - on facebook to DD. It was very minor - though she was extremely upset. Mrs BP sorted that one....

[SimonMac]

My lot play both, as with anything in life it's still your responsibility to check that they are OK, I have a rule that on ROBLOX any friend request has to be passed by me or MrsMac before accepting, and only if they know them IRL (mainly from school), we log in every now and then to check up on them, and we make sure we make a big deal of them seeing we are logging in so they know it too.

[BrilloPad]

My lot play both, as with anything in life it's still your responsibility to check that they are OK, I have a rule that on ROBLOX any friend request has to be passed by me or MrsMac before accepting, and only if they know them IRL (mainly from school), we log in every now and then to check up on them, and we make sure we make a big deal of them seeing we are logging in so they know it too.

Generation snowflake.

[filthy1980]

my eldest is a minecraft nut, so much so that she wants to be an architect

middle one 5, just made me download roblox for him the other week I didn't quite get it, thought it was just a platform game, will keep a close eye, thanks for the heads up

[quackhandle]

I think from the bits I read Roblox was aimed more at 13+ so will look at MC.

Cheers,

qh

[original PM]

similar to others both my kids play both (although minecraft is the favourite)

Never had any problems with any thing dodgy happening.

but yeah let them play but also make sure they are comfortable coming to you if someone starts trying to make friends with them.

It's a bit like when you first start letting your kids to go to the local park or something on their own - yes it is scary to let them go and you worry but it is so important for kids to get some freedom and responsibility.

[ChimpMaster]

A warning.

My youngest likes to watch Roblox on YouTube even more than he likes to play it.

Once I was sitting in my study and he was watching Roblox in the lounge. Normally some voiceover guy or girl talks about whatever's going on in the game. So normally it's OK, and I do my best to try and ignore their annoying commentary.

But this one time, by chance my ears tuned into what the voiceover guy was talking about and you would not believe the level of hardcore gay sex he was talking about! It was just constant filth pouring out of the voiceover, lube this and dildo that and far far worse.

My kid was too young to be listening and I switched it off pretty quick, but it goes to show that you really need to keep an eye on these things - this kinda stuff is definitely targeted at kids.