‘Nearly every kid had been scammed’: Inside Roblox’s predatory economy for children
Australian children are being exposed to predatory monetisation tactics on the gaming platform Roblox, according to two University of Sydney studies. Experts warn these practices, which resemble gambling and encourage impulsive spending, are skewing children's understanding of money. Many kids report being scammed and spending their pocket money on virtual items that fail to deliver as promised.
- ▪Roblox has 350 million monthly users, over half of whom are under 17, and generates an estimated $8.04 billion annually through its virtual currency, Robux.
- ▪Researchers found deceptive monetisation practices in 14 out of the top 15 Roblox games, including 'near-miss' visuals and countdown timers that create false urgency.
- ▪Children given a $20 gift card often immediately converted it into Robux, with many reporting they did not receive what they paid for and describing the platform as a 'cash grab' or 'scam'.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.