Highlights
- The Turkish government abruptly blocks all user access to Roblox, upsetting fans across the nation.
- Some people criticize Roblox for lack of safety measures and profiting off child labor by young game designers.
- It is unknown when the Roblox ban could be lifted in Turkey.
Adding to a recent string of media and internet bans, the Turkish government has abruptly blocked all user access to Roblox, upsetting fans across the Eurasian nation. Roblox has received criticism in the past for its lack of safety measures against mature content and for allegations of profiting off of child labor due to young game designers making massive amounts of popular mini-games. However, players have been baffled by the sudden banning of Roblox in Turkey.
An online game creation tool, Roblox allows players to design and enjoy various game worlds through a sandbox-style creation system. Popular fan creations in Roblox have achieved massive success over the years, drawing in millions of players every year. Unfortunately for fans in Turkey, it would seem they will no longer be able to create and explore with Roblox, following a surprising government ban.
The federal government of Turkey has blocked access to Roblox, as confirmed by multiple Turkish news outlets and user reports on Reddit. According to a statement from a Turkish official, access to Roblox has been banned in Turkey following concerns of child exploitation and inappropriate content on the platform. It was also stated by the official that a lack of direct content regulation led to the decision to ban Roblox in the country. Fans have already begun flooding social media with complaints, with many upset at the lack of forewarning. Many Roblox users make unique content that they are able to monetize and earn real money from, and Turkish game creators are now worried that their Roblox funds are locked behind this ban. No confirmation was given whether the ban will be temporary or permanent, but as it stands, all users in Turkey are unable to access Roblox.
Roblox Banned in Turkey for "Child Exploitation"
As stated by a Turkish official, Roblox was banned to prevent possible child exploitation, though many have taken issue with some of the stated examples. Namely, it was noted that Roblox users are able to host in-game parties, which officials have accused of "promoting homosexuality." Turkey has been historically strict in media regulations of any content that may be deemed to include LGBT themes or content, but the statement has still come as a surprise to many. Other reasons given for the ban include the monetization of Roblox content, which was said to unhealthily "incentivize children" to play the game, as well as concerns that potential sexually explicit content may be available to children on the platform. At the time of writing, the Roblox Corporation has not issued a formal response, but fans of the fun games in Roblox have begun voicing their thoughts.
Roblox is not the only video game-related platform to receive a federal ban at the hands of the Turkish government. In February 2024, streaming sites Kick and Twitch were banned in Turkey, following controversies involving gambling streams. As those bans remain in place, there is still no word on whether the Roblox or other media blockages will be lifted.
OpenCritic Reviews Platform(s) PC , iOS , Android , Xbox One , PS4 Released September 1, 2006 Developer(s) Roblox Corporation Publisher(s) Roblox Corporation Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Engine Roblox Studio ESRB T For Teen Due To Diverse Content: Discretion Advised Steam Deck Compatibility no X|S Enhanced yes Cross Save allows players to save their progress on one device or console and continue on another Cross-Platform Play Mobile, PC, PS4 & Xbox One Expand See at Xbox Games Store
