Russia Blocks Roblox: Why the Popular Kids’ Game Is Banned in December 2025

Russia Blocks Roblox — What It Means for Kids, Parents & Online Safety

On 3 December 2025, Russia officially banned access to the U.S.-based children’s gaming platform Roblox across the country. According to the country’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, the decision was based on concerns that the platform contained extremist materials, inappropriate content, and what it termed “LGBT propaganda” — all deemed harmful to the spiritual and moral development of children.

From early morning on December 3, Russian users began reporting issues opening Roblox. Social-media trackers and outage-monitoring sites logged thousands of complaints within hours — suggesting the ban was applied broadly and immediately.

According to Roskomnadzor, the platform repeatedly failed to remove content that violated Russian laws, including harmful material targeted at minors, alleged fraud attempts, and instances of pedophilic harassment and exploitation. These accusations were cited as justification for the permanent block.

From Roblox’s perspective, the company claims to be committed to user safety worldwide, using AI tools, moderation teams, and cooperation with child-safety experts and law enforcement to address harmful behavior. Nevertheless, Roskomnadzor judged these measures insufficient under Russian regulations, and the ban was enacted.

This move is part of a broader trend: earlier in 2025, several Middle Eastern and Gulf countries — including countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — had already imposed restrictions on Roblox, limiting certain features like in-game chat or even suspending access temporarily over child safety concerns.

The ban on Roblox marks a significant disruption for millions of young users. Although the platform had over 151.5 million daily active users globally in Q3 2025, Russian children and teens who used Roblox for gaming, socializing, or exploring creative “worlds” are now abruptly cut off.

For parents and guardians, the ban brings both relief and concern. While many may appreciate the intention of protecting children from unsafe online content, there is also worry about children using VPNs or other means to bypass the ban — potentially exposing them to unmoderated risks again.

The Roblox ban in Russia raises broader questions for the digital world: how should global platforms balance freedom of expression and entertainment with cultural norms, local laws, and child safety? Should tech companies adapt their moderation and content-control practices to each country, or should there be global standards for protecting minors online?

For now, Russian regulators have sent a clear message: when it comes to child protection and moral codes, they will not compromise — even if it means restricting access to one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.