Roblox imposes limitations on games that include "reward-driven media feeds" within Roblox Kids and Select
Roblox has implemented a new rule aimed at preventing young users from engaging with "reward-driven media feeds" within certain games on its platforms, Roblox Kids and Select.
As detailed in a statement on its creator forum, Roblox outlined that this rule pertains to games incorporating elements like media feeds, autoplay, infinite and autoscrolling, and incentives linked to content viewing.
Roblox is conducting active assessments of games to ensure they align with this updated policy. Non-compliant games will be excluded from Roblox Kids and Select unless their mechanisms are revamped.
This move comes after "Steal an Egg," a pet collection simulator, was removed due to a mechanism encouraging content binge-watching on a virtual treadmill to gain rewards, as reported by GamesRadar.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Roblox to determine if this new rule was a direct reaction to the "Steal an Egg" incident.
This policy applies to games featuring:
- Media feeds including short videos, images, or story formats resembling social media.
- Autoplay technologies, continuous looping, infinite scrolling, or automatic scrolling features.
- Rewards linked to or suggesting compulsory content viewing.
The limitation specifically addresses games with rewards tied to infinite scrolling or autoplay requiring ongoing engagement to earn these rewards.
Rewarded Video Ads remain unaffected by this policy because users need to manually start these ads, and view limits are enforced.
Games modified to comply with this will undergo another review process. Roblox reassures that existing criteria for inclusion will remain unchanged and that Player Engagement standards will persist.
Recently, the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism began an investigation of Roblox, asserting the platform favors revenue and engagement metrics at the expense of children's safety initiatives.
Roblox has also released three of its AI safety tools through the Robust Open Online Safety Tools Model Community (ROOST), making them open-source.