Update (10/01/25): In response to the open letter, a Roblox spokesperson told Game Developer the company values “creativity and expression” and explained its new guidelines will only impact a small number of experiences.
“We welcome and value creativity and expression on Roblox. We also respect that families around the world have different approaches to discussing certain topics with their children and want to empower parents to determine what content is appropriate for their family,” said a company spokesperson.
“This policy makes experiences centered around such issues inaccessible by default for children under 13, and gives parents the ability to enable these experiences through parental controls. The policy impacts very few experiences on Roblox and gives parents the ability to make the best choices for their family.”
Original story: Advocacy groups Women in Games, Out Making Games, and BAME in Games claim Roblox’s new ‘Sensitive Issues’ content descriptor represents a “step backward for both creative expression and social justice.”
In an open letter published online, all three organizations criticized Roblox for introducing guidelines they suggest could cause real harm to marginalized groups in society.
Roblox rolled out the descriptor in August and explained it will largely be applied to content “themed on current sensitive social, political, or religious issues.”
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It said content that provokes a “strong emotional response” or touches on “polarized viewpoints” would also meet the criteria for a ‘Sensitive Issues’ tag.
According to Roblox, that might include experiences that speak on issues such as “immigration, capital punishment, gun control, marriage equality, pay equity in sports, prayer in schools, racial profiling, affirmative action, vaccination policies, and reproductive rights.”
Roblox said the descriptor is “not meant to take a stance on any specific issue,” but could help parents decide “what content is right for their family, especially for subjects that may require adult guidance.”
“While parental controls serve an important purpose, they shouldn’t come at the expense of fundamental human dignity”
Women in Games, Out Making Games, and BAME in Games believe that stance risks treating equality and human rights as “debatable rather than fundamental” and is an example of false neutrality.
“We support efforts to keep children safe online—especially girls, who face disproportionate harassment and grooming. But safety cannot be achieved by silencing content that educates and empowers,” reads the letter.
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“Issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, and gender equality are central to girls’ and women’s lived experiences. Marking these as ‘sensitive’ risks hiding content that is vital to representation, education, and inspiration.”
They claim that framing topics such as affirmative action, marriage equality, and reproductive rights as sensitive topics that must be carefully debated rather than essential human rights could embolden detractors while simultaneously undermining Roblox’s purported goal of protecting children.
“Instead of protecting children, the policy risks teaching Roblox’s diverse audience that issues of justice and equality are controversial opinions rather than universal values, thereby reinforcing the very divisions it claims to guard against,” the letter continues.
“[…] While parental controls serve an important purpose, they shouldn’t come at the expense of fundamental human dignity. We are calling on Roblox to reconsider these guidelines and find ways to protect young users without legitimizing discrimination or silencing important voices.”
Women in Games, Out Making Games, and BAME in Games believe Roblox should adopt established, internationally-recognized content rating systems such as PEGI and IARC because those bodies “assess content, not politics.”
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“Roblox does not need to invent a vague, easily abused ‘sensitive issues’ label. It can and should adopt these established systems, giving parents the clarity they deserve and creators the freedom to speak,” the letter adds.
Game Developer has reached out to Roblox for comment.