"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 💵"
"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 🍺"
Roblox hosts poorly moderated experiences that expose children, including those as young as five, to interactions with random adults and sexualized avatar behavior. Many platforms still use outdated email and SIM-based logins that fail to verify age. Sprocket, a peer-to-peer bicycle marketplace, proactively blocks under-18 users per its terms and privacy policy and collaborates with Apple to improve developer systems. Sprocket advocates for Apple Wallet ID and AI-driven age-detecting/gating and pushes for per-US-state distribution controls so developers can comply with emerging child-protection laws without losing entire markets. Robust internet authentication is framed as necessary to protect children while respecting privacy and innovation.
Read at Medium
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