Russia Bans Roblox Over LGBT and Extremist Content

Russia has officially blocked the U.S.-based online gaming platform Roblox, citing concerns about “LGBT propaganda” and the spread of extremist content.

The country’s communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, announced the move on Wednesday, saying Roblox contains “inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.”

A Roblox spokesperson told Reuters in an email, “We respect the local laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and believe Roblox provides a positive space for learning, creation and meaningful connection for everyone.”

The spokesperson also emphasized that Roblox has “a deep commitment to safety” with systems in place to detect and prevent harmful content.

Despite these efforts, Roblox has faced criticism worldwide. The platform, which averaged 151.5 million daily active users in the third quarter of 2025, has been banned in countries such as Iraq and Turkey due to concerns that predators may exploit it to target children.

This is a serious issue, and it shows that Russia is not entirely wrong to restrict access, given the platform’s real-world problems with ped***** and safety risks for minors.

Roskomnadzor has a history of limiting access to Western platforms it believes violate Russian laws. Last year, the language-learning app Duolingo removed references to what Russia calls “non-traditional s**** relations” after being warned about LGBT content. In 2023, Russia labeled the “international LGBT movement” as extremist and began treating supporters as potential criminals.

The ban on Roblox comes amid wider restrictions on foreign platforms. In August, Russia limited some calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing them of not sharing data with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. Last week, Roskomnadzor even threatened to block WhatsApp completely.

The Roblox ban highlights a difficult balance. While the platform offers creative and social experiences for millions of children worldwide, the ongoing risks of predatory behavior and inappropriate content cannot be ignored.

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