Russia blocks Roblox: why the popular children's platform was shut down.

According to ТСН: The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media announced the blocking of access to the American children's online platform Roblox. According to the agency's statement, the service is allegedly "saturated with inappropriate content," which "negatively affects the spiritual and moral development of children."

In response, a Roblox spokesperson emphasized in a comment to Reuters that the platform "respects the laws of the countries in which it operates" and noted that the company offers a "positive space for learning, creativity, and communication." The representative also highlighted the presence of "powerful proactive safety mechanisms to detect and prevent harmful content" on Roblox.

In the third quarter of this year, Roblox had an average of 151.5 million daily active users. The platform had previously been banned in Iraq and Turkey due to concerns about its use for child abuse.

Wider context of censorship in Russia

The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications regularly restricts access to Western media and technological resources that they believe violate Russian legislation. Last year, the Duolingo app removed mentions of so-called "non-traditional sexual relations" following warnings from regulators.

In 2023, Russia recognized the "international LGBT movement" as extremist and began prosecuting LGBT individuals under criminal charges.

This year, the Russian authorities also restricted certain functions of WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing them of refusing to cooperate with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. Last week, the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications threatened to completely block WhatsApp.

It should be noted that an American previously relocated his family to Russia to avoid "LGBT propaganda": he was thrown onto the front lines.

The blocking of Roblox is part of the Kremlin's overall campaign to control the information space. The authorities are trying to exclude resources deemed dangerous to their ideology while emphasizing their role in protecting morality and compliance with existing laws. These actions provoke outrage among users who lose access to meaningful educational tools and platforms for creativity.