A Popular Online Game and Community App Among Kids

Booting up the family computer after a long day at school was special for many millennials. My friends and I always looked forward to playing online games like Runescape or checking out forums on MySpace. That virtual exploration and community experience online was surreal in the early 2000s. Large communities and online gaming are a norm for our kids now.

Roblox is one of the largest free titles popular for allowing users to design games and play them with others. Online communities were niche for the early internet, but today they are common on a larger scale with modern applications. Discord is the largest platform hosting online communities where users can chat, voice call, share media, and stream. It allows people to build genuine connections through shared gaming experiences and interests. Like all great things, there are some risks associated with these platforms.

Increased Risks on Different Platforms with Larger Online Populations

The ease of access and larger population online have higher risks than millennials' internet experience. When I played online games it was limited to PC and consoles which kept online activities at home. Everything is accessible on the go with various smart devices to a larger demographic today. Our kids are always connected, meaning they have a constant risk of being exposed to inappropriate content, are more inclined to pick up bad behaviors, and have a higher chance of encountering online predators.

Inappropriate Content on Games & Communities Popular with Kids

Inappropriate content runs rampant on the internet pushed by algorithms that can be filtered out in settings. This content on Discord communities and Roblox game modes is harder to avoid. The issues come with adults who create and share inappropriate content on platforms popular with kids. Explicit fan art on Discord is a common problem. I’ve seen it firsthand from being in Discord communities for popular games despite having an all-ages description. Explicit content is hard to moderate because of how fast it can be shared. When content is removed and the original user who shared it is banned, there is no guarantee that others didn’t see or save it to be reshared later. I’ve seen content reposted numerous times in related communities making it near impossible to stop the exposure. Discord has content filtering active by default, but it isn't without flaws. Explicit content can still slip on public servers. Exposure to mature themes can extend in-game from communities that share different game modes for Roblox.

Some game modes created with mature themes make their way to kids in Roblox Discord communities. Chicago Hood 2 is a game mode I learned about from overhearing students talk about it when I was an after-school instructor for a middle school. Players role-play the gang lifestyle notorious in Chicago where they participate in multiple criminal activities. These themes aren’t exclusive to Roblox but are more accessible to kids because Roblox is a free game and doesn’t require age verification to download, unlike mature game purchases. The risks overlooked when kids join these games or Discord communities are behaviors they can pick up from older members.

Kids Learn in Digital Environments

Kids learn from the environments around them including their digital ones. They will interact with numerous players and build their group of regulars. Behaviors they can pick up from online interactions are something to consider. Gamer rage is the most notorious behavior all gamers experience, It’s summarized with harsh language and other violent actions. Kids will likely be exposed to discriminatory language, hate speech, and verbal threats when teens or adults rage in games popular with kids. Our kids can be inclined to imitate these behaviors offline because they might think it’s socially acceptable with how common it is online. In contrast, they can also learn good behaviors when they play less competitive and more creative game modes that promote collaboration.

Online communities are great for building connections through a shared experience. I’ve built numerous lasting friendships that made their way offline with games like World of Warcraft. However, I was a teen with some capacity to understand the risks and build these connections carefully on the early Internet. Today, more kids are playing online and interacting with large Discord communities. The ease of access to Roblox and Discord communities increases the risk of our kids encountering online predators. 

Predators are Inevitable

Online predators will always exist. Roblox has a population of 70 million players. Roughly 50% are under the age of 17 and 40% are under the age of 12 according to Statista. This large population of kids paired with the ease of communication in-game and from Roblox Discord communities increases the opportunity for predators to interact, build trust, and groom kids.  One of the most infamous cases is of a man who manipulated a minor to travel from Indiana to New Jersey via Uber he paid for and proceeded to assault his victim over 8 days. He was famous for his Roblox game mode and Discord community where he interacted inappropriately with numerous minors. 

I’m personally more concerned about this because I have pre-teen cousins who’ve shown me the creepy interactions they witness on the Roblox Discord communities they’re in. It leads me to believe it’s more common than we think. Still, I can’t be a hypocrite by scolding their internet activities over those situations because I was their age when I first engaged in online gaming communities and had to navigate similar interactions. It’s better to keep our kids aware and educated so they understand how to approach these situations with the support around them. Learning how to be socially aware online is as important as it is in real life.

Let Our Kids Learn with Our Support!

As millennials, we have the advantage of guiding our kids through the digital landscape. We've experienced the evolution of online communities firsthand, from early forums to today's platforms like Roblox and Discord. While these spaces provide opportunities for creativity and connection, they also come with risks we can't ignore. Our role isn't to shelter our kids entirely with parental control; it's to educate and support them. We can help our kids navigate online communities safely by staying involved and setting reasonable boundaries. We can use our experience to empower their journey ensuring they can enjoy the benefits of our connected world while staying aware of its pitfalls.