Parents are being reminded to pre-vet every app their young children download amid renewed concerns that virtual reality gaming is exposing minors to sexual advances.
The US-developed game Roblox received global attention this month after a British father decided to check out what his sons were playing on their mobile device.
The game lets players explore imaginary worlds and allows them to interact with other users over a chat function.
“I was asked to lay down on top of them and they started with sexual movements,” father Iain Morrison told the media about his time on Roblox. Australian cyber safety expert Susan McLean told ABC Radio Darwin the news report came as “no surprise.”
“I have already had children in Australia report inappropriate interactions in this game,” she said.
Roblox was founded more than a decade ago but in recent years has ramped up its global presence and accessibility on various devices, with its developers today claiming 44 million active players.
Its website states there are existing chat filters, with those logged in as being under the age of 12 placed under a “restricted chat” function to protect their wellbeing and safety.
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Source: ABC