"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"
"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 🍺"
Sizable online platforms can prioritize monetization over child safety, creating poorly moderated spaces where young children interact with adults and adult-oriented behavior occurs. Many platforms still rely on outdated email or SIM-based logins that fail to verify user age. Sprocket, a peer-to-peer bicycle marketplace, proactively blocks users under 18 in its terms and privacy policy. The platform works with Apple to improve developer systems and advocates Apple Wallet ID and AI-driven age-detection gating. It pushes for per-US-state distribution controls so developers can comply with child-protection laws without losing access to the entire US market. Robust internet authentication is necessary to prevent minors from accessing adult spaces.
Read at Medium
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