Children today are spending unprecedented hours inside virtual worlds like Roblox. The platform now boasts roughly 152 million daily users worldwide, nearly 40 percent of them under age 13. Such scale means millions of kids are logged in for hours at a stretch. Pediatricians have begun to sound alarms: children who spend excessive time on Roblox or similar games often show signs of anxiety, insomnia or social withdrawal.
Experts warn that Roblox’s constant reward loops and “points” system have a “potential for addiction” – one that can hook young minds without them even realizing it. In short, these games aren’t just innocent fun; they are explicitly engineered to keep kids playing, and that can turn a healthy hobby into a real problem.
For parents, the stakes go beyond screen time. Many of the same design tricks that drive addiction also lead to financial and privacy pitfalls. For example, the makers of Fortnite (another hugely popular game) were recently censured by US regulators for using deceptive interface defaults. By saving parents’ credit-card details by default, a 10-year-old could tap once and spend $500 on virtual outfits without knowing. (One anguished parent told the FTC, “Epic Games is swindling parents with unauthorized game purchases, tricking young consumers…”.) These “dark patterns” are designed to trick kids (and their wallets). Roblox itself has in-app purchases (“Robux”) and flashy new games that can tempt children to spend real money. In effect, each platform’s goal is keeping the player glued – and that push for profit often conflicts with children’s well-being.
The other side of the coin is privacy. Every moment a child spends in a metaverse game, they leave a trail of data. In fact, a 2025 class-action lawsuit alleges that Roblox uses hidden software to track players’ every move – logging keystrokes, chat messages and search queries – then monetizes that information with targeted ads or more game content. Similar concerns have popped up in other games: regulators say Epic Games collected personal info from children under 13 without parents’ permission, violating US COPPA rules.
These are not just distant threats. In Europe, the Dutch consumer watchdog is now investigating whether Roblox meets new standards for child safety under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Roblox has responded by pledging age verification (even a facial-recognition check) to keep children chatting only with same-age players. In short, the platform knows it is under fire globally to do more.
Meanwhile, parents in Nigeria – and around the world – have new legal tools at their disposal. Nigeria’s Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 explicitly treats anyone under 18 as a “child” whose data needs extra care. Under the NDPA a company must verify a child’s age and get parental consent before collecting any personal data on that child. The law even calls for “child-friendly” privacy policies so that kids and guardians really understand what data is being gathered. This is a powerful protection: in practice, it means a platform like Roblox operating in Nigeria cannot legally harvest your child’s data without your permission. And Nigeria is backing this up with enforcement. In 2025 the country’s data regulator hit a major broadcaster with a N766 million fine for illegally exporting Nigerians’ personal data overseas. Nigerian parents should know that the NDPA is at least as strong as US COPPA or EU GDPR for kids’ data – and that authorities have shown they will use it.
So what can parents do today to keep their children safe?
First, get proactive with settings and time limits. Both Roblox and other multiverse games offer built-in controls: parents can block or filter chat, restrict who can contact your child, set daily play timers, and even require a PIN for any in-game purchase. In Roblox, you can create a separate parent account to manage all these settings.
Second, talk openly with your kids. Ask where they play and what they do online. Child experts advise asking if anything in a game ever made them feel uncomfortable – even small things – and encourage them to come to you if it does.
Third, teach good data hygiene: make sure kids use nicknames instead of real names, never share location or contact info in a game, and think twice before clicking links or ads. And remember that our laws are on your side: in Nigeria, for instance, you can demand that a game delete your child’s data or face the NDPA’s penalties.
In summary, the new metaverse is here to stay. Our aim isn’t to demonize video games – many can be creative and social outlets for kids – but to manage them wisely. Parents should view themselves as the frontline of defense. By combining clear limits, the use of parental controls, ongoing conversations, and awareness of legal rights (like Nigeria’s NDPA) we can let children enjoy these digital worlds without falling prey to hidden dangers. In other words, guide their play, safeguard their privacy, and keep the virtual adventure fun and safe.
Practical tips for parents:
• Set clear limits. Use apps or timers to cap daily playtime and mix in offline activities (sports, hobbies, family time). Plenty of digital-goldmines breed kids’ boredom or anxiety if left unchecked.
• Enable all safeguards. Turn on every privacy/parental control the game offers – block voice/text chat, limit friend invites, lock in-app purchases behind a password. (Roblox and similar games allow you to disable chat or spending entirely.)
• Keep personal info private. Remind kids never to share real names, addresses, schools or other sensitive details. Treat every stranger in a game as unknown – just as you would in the real world.
• Leverage the law. In Nigeria the NDPA requires your consent before any child data is collected. Don’t hesitate to ask game companies what data they have on your child or even file a complaint with the NDPC if something seems amiss.
• Stay involved. Check in regularly about your child’s gaming. Watch for mood changes, unexplained messages, or account charges. Make sure they know they can talk to you without fear if something in a game upsets them.
Above all, remember that these games can be wonderful creative spaces when used wisely. As technology evolves, the best strategy is informed, active parenting backed by the protections our laws now offer.
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