RobloxCEO David Baszucki has said that the platform will someday have a dating feature to fight the “loneliness epidemic going on in the world.”Robloxhas undergone several changes since it launched publicly in 2006, with some of them more controversial than others, and now the CEO has once again touched upon a topic that could generate discussion.
Roblox is an online gaming platform where players not only play but can also create and publish their own games.Roblox is massively popular, with recent reports showing it has more active players than the top 100 Steam games combined. Even though Roblox has traditionally been aimed at children and teens, the platform is slowly (and steadily) evolving. Over the years, Roblox has faced various controversies, primarily involving the platform’s perceived lack of features to protect the immense number of kids who hop on Roblox every day. While it’s true that some changes have been made to address these concerns, the platform’s continued evolution toward a more adult audience worries many—and the CEO’s recent statements may further fuel those concerns.
During an episode of theTech Stuff podcast, CEO David Baszucki commented again onRoblox’s future dating feature. Baszucki said that one day, people 21 years old and up with verified IDs will be able to access this feature. He explained that it will be useful for those who may be afraid of real-life dates, as they will be able to “have a virtual date to start and then, if they connect, move to the physical world.” He wants Roblox to become a “wellness platform,” a place to “help loneliness and bring connection.”
Roblox Plans to Add Dating Feature Someday to ‘Help Loneliness and Bring Connection’
Baszucki went on to explain more about the future of the platform and why he believesRoblox’s gaming experiencecan turn into something different. He envisions Roblox as a space where people can find others to connect with—especially individuals who have become disconnected at school, are experiencing a health crisis, or are dealing with other issues.
During the episode, Baszucki also talked about parents’ responsibility when it comes to letting their kids be on the platform. He had previously said thatparents who were not comfortable shouldn’t let their children use Roblox, and now he has somewhat doubled down on that. “I would always want parents to, if they’re not comfortable, follow their intuition,” he stated.
I would always want parents to, if they’re not comfortable, follow their intuition.
Given the various accusations Roblox has faced—which include lawsuits from players' parents over “harmful content”—every step it takes is now closely scrutinized by its audience, and this one is no exception. How Roblox is going to pivot and introduce the CEO’s desired changes remains to be seen, though Baszucki hasn’t provided any release window for the dating feature.
