Ben Gillenwater: Is Roblox Safe for Kids? What Parents Need to Know

In this episode, Ben Gillenwater, known online as the Family IT Guy, breaks down what Roblox actually is and why it presents unique risks for children. He explains the dangers of online chat, user-generated content, and how inappropriate material can still reach young users despite parental controls. Ben also examines Roblox’s business model, including its heavy reliance on in-game purchases, and why that incentive structure matters for families. Together, Sarah and Ben explore the broader child safety concerns surrounding the platform, including ongoing legal scrutiny and the story of a former young player who began exposing predators within the game. They compare Roblox to Minecraft, highlighting key differences in design, safety systems, and parental oversight. The conversation ultimately expands beyond one platform, raising critical questions about privacy, age verification technologies, and the growing pressure to trade biometric data for “safety.” At its core, this episode is a call for parents to stay informed, prioritize privacy, and take an active role in guiding their children through the digital world. More About Ben Gillenwater: Ben Gillenwater is a 30-year cybersecurity expert and dad on a mission to help families navigate the digital world safely. His journey began when I gave his young son an iPad with "kid-safe" apps. Despite his decades of tech experience, he was shocked to discover inappropriate content and saw how the device's addictive design affected his sleep and outdoor activity.  Through Family IT Guy Ben, Ben creates videos and articles that help parents and kids learn how to leverage the positive parts of the internet while avoiding the dangerous and risky parts. His approach bridges the knowledge gap between complex technology and practical family protection, making digital safety accessible to everyone.  Website: https://www.familyitguy.com/about.html Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/family_it_guy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@family.it.guy   Connect with Sarah Adams: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://momuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mom.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mom.uncharted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://parentsuncharted.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/parents.uncharted/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@parents.uncharted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices