What Kids Think About Roblox, Loot Boxes & Game Spending in 2025

🧒 A recent study is raising serious concerns about how children understand and react to loot boxes, virtual currencies, and in-game spending in Roblox.

Conducted in Australia, the research involved interviews with 22 children aged 7–14, revealing widespread confusion, emotional stress, and growing discontent with Roblox’s monetization model.

Here’s what the findings say—and why it matters in 2025.

🎮 Roblox & the Rise of In-Game Spending

Roblox is one of the world’s most popular digital platforms for kids, offering free access to millions of virtual games. But beneath its free-to-play model lies a heavily monetized system powered by Robux, the platform’s virtual currency.

Key Points:

Roblox earned over $3.6 billion in 2024, largely via microtransactions
Children buy Robux to unlock cosmetics, pets, power-ups, and loot boxes
Games like Adopt Me!, Pet Simulator 99, and Blox Fruits use random reward mechanics
These games are accessible even to users under 15, despite Australia’s 2024 loot box restrictions

🧠 What Kids Say About Loot Boxes and Virtual Currency

Children interviewed in the study expressed discomfort and frustration with how in-game purchases work.

Common Themes:

💸 Confusion: “I can’t even begin to grasp how much Robux costs.”
😡 Anger: Many labeled purchases as a “scam” or “cash grab.”
🎰 Gambling Concerns: Loot boxes were often described as “literally just child gambling.”

Kids felt emotionally misled when randomized rewards didn’t meet their expectations—leading to disappointment and conflict with parents.

💸 Why Roblox’s Currency System Confuses Kids

To make a purchase, players often go through multiple conversion steps:

Real-world money ➡️ Robux
Robux ➡️ Diamonds, Coins, or Gems (in specific games)

This layered currency system obscures real-world pricing, making it difficult for kids—especially younger ones—to track or manage spending.

Some older kids use Robux-to-dollar calculators, but most struggle with transparency and understanding.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents Report Feeling Powerless

Parents interviewed shared similar concerns:

🧮 Some tried using Roblox as a tool to teach digital budgeting
🧩 Others faced emotional fallout when kids felt “scammed” by loot boxes
🛑 Many were frustrated by a lack of parental controls or spending clarity

🛡️ Why Current Child Protection Laws Fall Short

Despite a 2024 policy in Australia banning loot boxes for users under 15, Roblox still grants access to these features.

Researchers Recommend:

🚫 Stricter age enforcement on monetized systems
💲 Simplified virtual currency pricing
❌ Removal or redesign of loot-based monetization in kids’ games

With Roblox rated PG or 12+, these mechanics remain accessible to millions of underage players globally.

✅ Final Thoughts: It’s Time for Safety by Design

The report concludes that Roblox prioritizes monetization over child safety, urging platforms to adopt “safety by design” principles—where protection is built in by default, not offered as an option.

“Children value their digital experiences but feel frustrated, deceived, and even harmed by how money works in these games.”

🎮 As online gaming becomes more central to children's lives, it’s critical that ethical monetization and age-appropriate design become industry standards—not afterthoughts.