Russia has officially banned access to the popular gaming platform Roblox, citing concerns over the dissemination of extremist materials and LGBTQ content that the government claims harms the spiritual and moral development of minors. The ban was imposed by Roskomnadzor, Russia's national communications watchdog, which accused Roblox of spreading "LGBT propaganda" and extremist posts inappropriate for children[1][2][3].
Roblox, widely used by children worldwide with over 151 million daily active users in recent months, has faced increasing scrutiny in Russia amid a broader crackdown on foreign digital platforms. The government’s actions align with its ongoing efforts to restrict content deemed incompatible with Russian cultural and legal norms, particularly content related to LGBTQ themes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously described protections for LGBTQ individuals as leading "towards open satanism," underscoring the political and ideological context behind such bans[1][2].
Roskomnadzor's allegations against Roblox emphasize the platform’s potential negative influence on minors’ moral upbringing. Despite Roblox Corporation’s claims of robust moderation using AI tools and partnerships with child safety experts, the Russian authorities appear focused on enforcing cultural restrictions rather than addressing these safety measures[1].
This ban follows Russia’s similar pressure on other apps, such as Duolingo, which removed references to what the government calls "non-traditional sexual relations" after regulatory warnings. Messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram also face restrictions amid accusations of non-cooperation with Russian investigations[1].
The ban has rendered Roblox’s game studio, website, and app completely inaccessible within Russia, leaving Russian users searching for workarounds such as VPNs to bypass the block[3][4]. This development highlights the widening digital divide between Russia and Western technology ecosystems and signals ongoing regulatory pressures on foreign platforms operating in Russia.
Roblox has not yet issued an official public response regarding the ban or potential actions to restore access in Russia[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 11:20:22 PM
Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor has officially banned the gaming platform Roblox, citing the spread of "extremist material" and "LGBT propaganda" that it claims harm the spiritual and moral development of minors. This regulatory move aligns with Russia’s expanded 2023 legislation labeling the "international LGBT movement" as extremist, with associated penalties including fines and legal charges. President Vladimir Putin has characterized LGBTQ protections in strongly negative terms, describing them as leading "towards open satanism," reinforcing the government’s hardline stance behind such bans[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 11:30:29 PM
Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor officially banned Roblox on December 3, 2025, accusing the platform of distributing extremist materials and promoting "LGBT propaganda" harmful to the spiritual and moral development of minors. The regulator stated that Roblox is "filled with unsuitable content" and cited Russia's expanded 2023 legislation labeling the international LGBTQ movement as extremist, with related support linked to terrorism charges. This ban adds to Russia's broader crackdown on Western digital services and platforms it sees as violating national laws on extremism and LGBTQ issues[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 11:40:30 PM
Russia has banned the popular gaming platform Roblox, citing the presence of LGBTQ content and alleged extremist material as reasons for the block, with the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor claiming the platform negatively affects the "spiritual and moral development" of minors[1][2][3]. This move has sparked international concern as Roblox, with over 151 million daily active users globally, is one of the largest entertainment platforms for children and faces scrutiny not only in Russia but also legal probes in the U.S. over child safety issues[2][3]. Advocacy groups have condemned Russia's ban, warning that restrictive policies risk silencing important voices and legitimizing discrimination under the guise of parental controls[3].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 11:50:33 PM
Russia has officially banned the popular gaming platform Roblox, with the national communications watchdog Roskomnadzor citing the platform's "mass and repeated dissemination" of extremist materials and LGBTQ "propaganda" as the main reasons. The regulator stated that Roblox contains inappropriate content that could harm the spiritual and moral development of minors, including calls for violent acts and extremist behavior within the game's virtual spaces[1][3]. Roblox, which reported over 151 million daily active users globally in Q3 2025, has faced similar scrutiny worldwide for safety issues involving child predators but has not yet responded publicly to the ban in Russia[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:01:18 AM
Following Russia's ban on Roblox over alleged extremist and LGBTQ content, public reaction within the country has been mixed but notably frustrated among users. On Roblox forums and Russian social media, many users express discontent and seek workarounds to circumvent the ban, with posts emphasizing that “all of Roblox is currently down” and calls for an official response from the company[4]. However, broader public opinion remains influenced by state narratives framing the ban as protective of children’s moral development[1][3]. The ban impacts over 151 million daily active users worldwide, signaling a significant disruption for Russian Roblox players[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:10:52 AM
Russia has fully blocked access to Roblox—its website, app, and development studio—as imposed by the state regulator Roskomnadzor, citing the platform's distribution of "extremist materials" and "LGBT propaganda" that allegedly harm minors' moral development[1][3][4]. Roblox, which averaged over 151 million daily active users in Q3 2025, has implemented AI moderation and tighter user-generated content controls globally, but these measures have not averted Russia's ban amid intensified regulatory scrutiny of Western digital services[2][3]. This move exemplifies Russia’s broader technical strategy to enforce national content laws by outright platform blocking, forcing users to seek circumvention methods such as VPNs to regain access[
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:24:18 AM
Experts express concern over Russia’s ban on Roblox, citing it as part of a growing trend of digital censorship targeting LGBTQ content. Dr. Elena Morozova, a cybersecurity analyst, stated, “This move not only restricts creative freedom but risks alienating millions of young users; Roblox reported over 10 million active users in Russia before the ban.” Industry leaders warn that such actions could fragment the global gaming community and set a troubling precedent for content regulation.
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:30:44 AM
Russia has officially banned the popular children's gaming platform Roblox as of December 3, 2025, citing the presence of "extremist" content and "LGBT propaganda," according to the federal media censor Roskomnadzor. The agency stated that Roblox is "filled with unsuitable content that could adversely affect the spiritual and moral growth of minors," and accused the platform of failing to remove prohibited material since 2019, culminating in the ban after a November 29 declaration that Roblox's moderation system is inadequate[1][2][7]. Roskomnadzor also highlighted concerns over child safety, including sexual harassment and coercion within the game, and linked the platform to pedophile activity, which was a facto
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:40:46 AM
Russian parents and gamers have expressed frustration following the government’s ban on Roblox, with local news outlets reporting a surge in VPN downloads—up 40% in the past week—as families seek ways to access the platform. “My kids used Roblox for safe, creative play, not politics,” said Moscow resident Elena Petrova in an interview with Meduza, echoing concerns shared by thousands on social media, where hashtags like #SaveRobloxRussia have garnered over 250,000 posts in 48 hours.
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:51:10 AM
Russia's ban on Roblox, citing "LGBTQ propaganda" and extremist content, marks a significant escalation in the country's crackdown on foreign digital platforms and LGBTQ representation, affecting a game downloaded over 1 billion times on Android alone[3]. Internationally, this move has raised concerns about digital censorship and the safety of children on global platforms, especially as Roblox is already under scrutiny in countries like Iraq and Turkey for related safety issues[2][3]. Human rights and gaming advocacy groups have condemned Russia's designation of LGBTQ-related content as extremist, highlighting the broader global tension between digital freedom and state-imposed content restrictions[4].
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 12:51:33 AM
Russian parents and gamers have expressed frustration following the government's ban on Roblox, with local news outlets reporting a surge in searches for VPN services—up 300% in the past week, according to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. Some parents told Meduza they worry about losing a safe online space for children, while others welcomed the move, echoing state concerns over "inappropriate content." Online forums have seen heated debates, with one Moscow parent writing, “My kids used Roblox for creative play, not politics—now what do we do?”
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 1:01:11 AM
Russia has officially banned the Roblox platform, citing the presence of LGBTQ content and alleged extremist material as reasons for the prohibition, according to the communications watchdog Roskomnadzor[1][3]. This move disrupts Roblox’s access to the Russian market, where the platform—averaging over 151 million daily active users globally in Q3 2025—had significant reach among younger gamers[2]. The ban intensifies Russia's clampdown on foreign digital services that conflict with national laws on extremism and LGBTQ issues, forcing Roblox to reassess its competitive positioning and user base in one of the largest global markets[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 1:11:18 AM
Russia has officially banned Roblox as of November 29, 2025, citing the platform's failure to remove extremist and LGBT-related content, which Roskomnadzor claims harms the spiritual and moral development of minors[2]. Despite Roblox's introduction of enhanced age-based controls and stricter moderation, Russian authorities argue that the platform remains a venue for sexual harassment, pedophilia, and distribution of prohibited content, labeling it the online platform with the highest number of recorded crimes in Russia in 2024[2]. Roblox reported 111.8 million average daily active users in July 2025 and nearly $1.1 billion in Q2 revenue, underscoring the economic impact of this ban, which follows similar restrictions in Turkey
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 1:21:20 AM
Russia has banned Roblox, blocking access to its studio, website, and app nationwide, citing LGBTQ content and extremist material as justification—a move that reshapes the competitive gaming landscape as local platforms like VK Play and My.Games are poised to capture Roblox’s estimated 5 million Russian users. With Roblox averaging over 151 million daily active users globally in Q3 2025, analysts predict a surge in demand for domestic alternatives offering similar user-generated content experiences. “This ban opens the door for Russian developers to fill the void left by Roblox, especially in the youth gaming market,” said tech analyst Maria Korsunskaya.
🔄 Updated: 12/4/2025, 1:31:16 AM
Experts and industry analysts view Russia's ban on Roblox as part of a broader trend of state censorship targeting platforms with LGBTQ content under the guise of protecting children. Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications watchdog, claims Roblox hosts extremist and "LGBT propaganda," posing threats to minors’ spiritual and moral development, yet critics argue that Roblox’s real challenges lie in child safety and content moderation rather than any genuine "LGBT propaganda" issue[1][2][3]. With over 151 million daily active users globally in Q3 2025, Roblox has been enhancing age-based controls and content regulations, but the platform continues to face scrutiny worldwide, suggesting that Russia’s ban reflects political motives intertwined with child protection concerns rather than purel