"In 2016, I presented at @Roblox Indie Game Developer Meetup about design strategy as an indie developer. Back then, I had no idea children as young as 5 were interacting with random adults on their platform. Today, the same company (NYSE: $RBLX) is filled with poorly moderated "games" like Bathroom Simulator and worse - all while letting adults animate their avatars for sexual role play."
"As new child safety laws roll out worldwide in 2025-2026, small developers like me are leading the charge - finding a balance between protecting kids, respecting privacy, and still fostering innovation. Because for too long we've coasted without robust internet authentication, and even if you disagree with governments eroding online privacy, we still need robust infrastructure that prevents the equivalent of kindergartners being able to walk into the equivalent of digital bars that serve alcohol and visa versa 🍺"
"* Proactively blocking under-18 users ( its explicit in the TOS/PP ) * Working directly with Apple & to improve their developer systems * Advocating for real age-verification tools like Apple Wallet ID & AI-driven age-detecting/gating like what just shipped * Pushing for per-US-state distribution controls so developers can comply with new child-protection laws without being crushed by disabling all of the US market 💵"
A major social gaming platform hosts poorly moderated experiences where young children can encounter adults and sexualized avatar behavior. Many platforms still rely on outdated email/SIM logins that ignore age verification, creating systemic safety gaps. A peer-to-peer bicycle marketplace, Sprocket, blocks under-18 users in its TOS/PP, works with Apple to improve developer systems, and advocates for age-verification tools like Apple Wallet ID and AI-driven age-detecting/gating. Developers are pushing for per-state distribution controls to comply with upcoming 2025–2026 child safety laws while trying to preserve privacy and maintain innovation.
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