After one Redditor witnessed their friend’s child become upset after demanding Robux, Roblox’s digital currency, they sought other opinions on whether the system reinforces bad habits among children.
To illustrate their point, the user posted a photo of a large store display selling physical packs of Roblox currency that can be exchanged digitally.
Here’s what to know
The thread, titled “After hearing my friend’s kid demanding robux … This feels particularly dystopian,” appeared on Reddit’s r/Anticonsumption.
Photo Credit: Reddit
Much of the sentiment focused on what buyers are actually getting in the mysterious bundles.
After one user asked what was inside the bags, the original poster explained they were “literal pieces of cardboard” with “little codes on the back.”
For many commenters, the idea of children spending real money on a code tied to virtual currency and digital items was exactly what felt bleak.
Parents commenting on the thread indicated that their concern wasn’t just Roblox itself but the behavior around paying for it.
“I’m honestly, as a parent, really shocked that there are parents still letting their children on Roblox,” one admitted.
The poster also argued that the real danger is how easily microtransactions become routine.
They wrote that “once someone breaks the barrier on microtransactions, even if it’s just one tiny 99-cent thing, they’re significantly more likely to spend more in the future,” turning tiny purchases into an ongoing pattern of charges.
More background
The thread also discussed other kid-focused products built around hype, rarity, and chance.
One person said their son became fixated on football cards after watching YouTubers talk about grab bags and supposedly valuable pulls, adding, “I quickly realized this was grooming for gambling.”
Others warned that the same pattern shows up in many places aimed at children.
“I really hate seeing how kids are groomed to be gamblers. Sports cards, Pokémon cards, blind boxes, crane games, slot machine-style arcade games, loot boxes, it’s so pervasive,” another lamented.
Some argued that Roblox is only the latest version of a much older model.
A commenter pointed to Club Penguin, Disney Fairies, and Webkinz as earlier examples where memberships and merchandise-linked codes shaped what kids could wear or unlock online, sometimes reinforcing status differences between children.
Even people who grew up around Roblox said the system has intensified.
A 28-year-old commenter who said they were “the prime age for Robux back in the day” argued that Roblox items are “basically a low-tier crypto currency.”
Many commenters treated the issue as both a money problem and a cultural one.
What can be done?
The most common advice in the thread was simply not to let kids play the game.
“My six-year-old daughter really wants to play Roblox but we’ve held strong in keeping her off of it,” a user replied.
Some said it worked better to redirect kids to games without nonstop monetization than to debate every purchase request.
“I just straight up told my kids no I don’t want you playing that game,” one commenter said, adding that their children now use an old N64 and “play it daily.”
Another commenter noted that when they were young, children had to earn money for games through “saving holiday money, chores, or surveys.”
“It’s a gambling and grooming platform. Instead of buying a kid robux buy them a different game,” a user suggested.
The overall mood remained grim.
“For some reason that makes me sad,” the original poster admitted after learning what the item was.
“This IS insane and despicable,” another observed.
Where can I learn more?
These articles explore similar concerns about how companies reach kids through games, digital platforms, and consumer products. They cover Roblox labor claims, brand experiments inside games, and other products parents say are designed to hook children early.
• Roblox faced a class action over minors working for free to build platform content.
• The Salvation Army used Roblox to debut a digital thrift store for younger shoppers.
• Shell drew backlash after targeting young players through Fortnite with a branded California road trip game.
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