Putin’s government officially claims it is not worried about predators or explicit content on Roblox, but about how the platform supposedly harms the “spiritual and moral development” of minors – a justification that points to a much broader ideological battle.

Roblox has been at the center of countless discussions in recent years. The social platform created by Roblox Corporation has become a runaway success, attracting millions of young players and generating billions in annual revenue, even while the company itself went years without turning a profit. Now, however, Roblox has run into an even more formidable opponent: Russia, which has banned the game nationwide, citing extremist content and alleged “LGBT propaganda”.

As reported by Reuters, Putin’s government argues that Roblox could negatively affect the spiritual and moral development of children. Russia’s media and communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, claims that the platform spreads content that contradicts so-called traditional values and, in particular, promotes non-heteronormative relationships among minors.

This move is part of a broader legal framework. The ban is directly linked to a 2022 expansion of Russian legislation that prohibits the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” in content aimed at children. The rules affect not only video games, but also films, television, and other forms of media that reach younger audiences.

Roblox has long-standing problems – and they go far beyond LGBT content

At the same time, Roblox is widely known for issues that have nothing to do with the official Russian justification. The platform has repeatedly been criticized for exposing minors to sexual predators, as well as explicit and even violent content that is not always adequately moderated and can be accessible to all users. In the United States, for example, prosecutors in Kentucky and Texas have warned parents and authorities about the risks the platform poses to children.

These concerns are separate from the reasons used by the Kremlin, which focuses mainly on sexual orientation and what it labels “extremist” content. In other words, while many international observers worry about child safety and moderation, the Russian state appears more interested in policing which identities and relationships can be depicted at all.

Roblox Corporation’s response has been brief and generic. The company reiterated its commitment to user safety and stressed that it respects the laws of the countries in which it operates. However, it did not directly address the Russian ban or specify any concrete plan to challenge or circumvent the measure.

With this decision, Roblox joins a list of games banned in Russia on the grounds of “extremist content”, such as STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl and The Sims 4 expansion My Wedding Stories, which was targeted for depicting same-sex marriage. The growing list shows how quickly games and digital platforms can be restricted if they clash with the ideological line set by the authorities.

The Roblox controversy thus goes far beyond a single title losing access to a market. It has become another flashpoint in the struggle over who controls the digital spaces where children and teenagers spend their time – and what kinds of stories and identities they are allowed to see there.

Source: 3djuegos