The CEO of Roblox Corporation, David Baszucki, has appeared on a podcast discussing the technical foundation and current reputation of the platform. He took a deep dive into the ‘myth’ that Roblox isn’t safe after walking through what it took to get the game where it is today.
He also mentioned that someday, Roblox will introduce dating features to combat the ‘loneliness epidemic’ and allow people who are afraid to date in the real world to meet others virtually.
Bold Move
Given that Roblox is ‘aimed’ at younger players, it might seem bizarre to suggest that it will one day facilitate virtual dating environments. It also might be bizarre to recommend that as a next step, given that predators have notoriously plagued the platform in recent history.
David Baszucki, the CEO of Roblox, recently appeared on the TechStuff podcast to address that possibility:
There’s a loneliness epidemic going on.
I’ll go out on a limb and say for, in quotes, 21 and up, ID-verified, opted-in, someday we’ll have dating on Roblox.
I think a lot of people who might be afraid to go on a real life date might find it easier to have a virtual date to start.
If they connect, they move to the physical world.
Thanks to GameRant for the spot
For many, that’s a dangerous concept, but Baszucki is adamant that Roblox is as safe as it could be.
We’re thankful that we started with younger people on the platform, because it arguably is a much more difficult area to challenge.
I believe, over time, getting the reputation that Roblox is a dangerous place for bad actors, we do a lot of work with all the three-letter agencies and want to make Roblox a dangerous place for anyone who is thinking about that.
We’re moving more and more proactive.
We nudge people on the platform when they’re not being so nice or bullying or whatever, and those nudges give an early indication of what we just won’t tolerate on the platform.
Related: Is Roblox Safe For Kids?
Baszucki went on to explain that he’s a parent himself and he’s acutely aware of the perceptions of some regarding the inherent safety of Roblox. He suggested that, as a parent, if you’re not comfortable with your child being on Roblox, you should ‘follow your intuition.’
Do you think having dating in Roblox is a good idea? Let me know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that the Horizon franchise has sold 38 million copies
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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