Al-Azhar warns of the dangers of the game "Roblox" on children and adolescents

The Al-Azhar International Center for Electronic Fatwas issued an urgent warning about the game "Roblox" which is one of the most popular electronic gaming platforms globally, warning of the dangers that children and adolescents may face through it.

The center explained that the nature of the game, which allows users to create their own games and experiences, makes it susceptible to containing inappropriate or dangerous content, which may negatively affect the behaviors of youth and threaten their psychological and physical safety.

It emphasized that some electronic games, including "Roblox", contribute to stealing the youth's time and trapping them in virtual worlds, and may also develop violent behaviors in them or expose them to intellectual, moral, and social risks, stressing the prohibition of games that promote hatred or insult religion or threaten societal values.

Al-Azhar called on parents and educational and media institutions to raise awareness of the dangers of these games and to protect children from their negative effects, while guiding them towards beneficial activities such as learning, sports, and culture.

The "Roblox" platform attracts more than 70 million users daily, most of whom are children and adolescents, and has sparked widespread controversy due to the risks it entails, such as harassment and extortion through unregulated chat rooms, and the leakage of user data. Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have issued similar warnings or imposed temporary restrictions on the game.