"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."
"👨💻 In contrast, on my own marketplace app - Sprocket (a peer-to-peer bicycle platform) - I've spent years doing the opposite: * 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 💵"
Children as young as five are interacting with random adults on major gaming platforms, while poorly moderated titles and adult avatar sexual role play proliferate. Publicly traded platforms often prioritize adult revenue over child safety and many services still use outdated email or SIM-based logins that fail to verify age. Sprocket, a peer-to-peer bicycle marketplace, proactively blocks under-18 users, works with Apple to improve developer systems, advocates Apple Wallet ID and AI-driven age-detection/gating, and pushes per-state distribution controls. New child-safety laws in 2025–2026 will require developers to balance protecting minors, respecting privacy, and enabling innovation.
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