Roblox Launches Parent Council Amid Growth
Roblox has launched a Global Parent Council to improve family engagement and online safety oversight on its platform. The move comes as new data shows Roblox logged more playtime in 2025 than Steam and PlayStation combined, solidifying its position as a primary destination for young audiences.
- The Global Parent Council consists of 80 parents from 32 countries with diverse backgrounds, including psychology, education, and law enforcement, who will meet quarterly to advise on safety features and policies. This initiative follows the introduction of over 145 safety measures in 2024, such as age-based communication tools and facial age verification. - Roblox's daily active users surged to 151.5 million by the third quarter of 2025. While 56% of users are under 16, the 17-24 age group is the platform's fastest-growing demographic. - Animation companies like Baobab Studios are utilizing Roblox to test new intellectual property and build audiences before committing to full-scale production, leveraging real-time user feedback to refine concepts. This strategy aligns with the shift of Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences from traditional media to interactive entertainment. - To streamline IP integration, Roblox launched a License Manager in 2025, allowing creators to legally develop games using intellectual property from partners like Netflix, Lionsgate, and Sega. This initiative simplifies the licensing process, with IP holders setting their own terms, including revenue shares that typically range from 10% to 25%. - Generative AI is significantly accelerating animation workflows by automating and enhancing processes like character creation, motion synthesis, and texture generation. This allows smaller teams to iterate on character designs and storyboards more efficiently, reducing production time and costs. - Recent acquisitions in the kids' media space include Blue Ant Media's planned US$63 million purchase of Thunderbird Entertainment to create a Canadian production powerhouse. Such deals often aim to combine complementary IP portfolios and achieve operational cost savings. - A 2025 Pew Research Center study shows that 90% of children under 12 watch TV, while 68% use tablets and 61% use smartphones. YouTube is watched by 85% of children, with usage among toddlers increasing from 45% to 62% in the last five years. - Apple's Vision Pro is being positioned as a transformative educational tool, offering immersive AR/VR experiences that can move learning beyond 2D screens. Its "infinite canvas" allows for interactive 3D models and virtual field trips, aiming to boost student engagement and knowledge retention.
