TEXAS, USA — Parents are panicking after learning about a rumored setting on the video game Roblox.
The popular game is played by millions of young children. It's a social platform where kids can play games made by other gamers. However, it can also be one of the many apps where sexual predators find their prey.
This is the fear one mom had after finding out about a feature on the app. She says there is a biometric location tracking option in the game, making players' addresses vulnerable to being revealed.
The mother posted the information on social media. Now hundreds of parents are on edge wondering if this is actually true.
THE QUESTION
Can you track someone's location on Roblox?
OUR SOURCE
Joseph Scaramucci, Director of Law Enforcement Engagement for the organization Skull Games.
THE ANSWER
You can find someone through any app, but there is not a confirmed setting where your exact location can be revealed on Roblox.
WHAT WE FOUND
Scaramucci says he has not seen or heard of this feature in Roblox, but parents need to remember anything on the internet can be tracked if the right information is given up.
"Even talking about what city they're in," Scaramucci said. "It's interesting what we can find if I just start picking away at little clues in communication with you. Many times I can pin down exactly where your house is. Even though you're not providing the home address, if you're providing enough detail about your life, it's really not that hard anymore to do that."
Scaramucci advises parents to be mindful of the chat feature on Roblox.
"I would kill the chat feature, just turn it off," Scaramucci added. "If they are on it, I would obviously be monitoring that and knowing exactly who they're talking to. The chances are that would be a very short list because they think they're talking to people that they know."
That's why it's important to monitor your child because Scaramucci says any app can be dangerous.
"Do inappropriate things happen on Roblox?" Scaramucci said. "Of course it does. It does on any platform that touches the internet. The unfortunate thing of children's games is if you are a predator you now know where to go. The days of having to sit outside of a park are long."
Here are safety tips Scaramucci has for parents moving forward
1. Know your kids. Know when a change of behavior happens, that way you can ask what's going on.
2. Keep your composure if your kids come to you with something because they're going to base what happens next on what your reaction is. If your reaction is to lose your top, it could really hinder anything with a long-term investigation.
Here are tips Scaramucci has for children
1. If you can't put your hand on another kid's shoulder from school, then you don't actually know who it is on the internet.
2. No means no.
3. You should not be sending inappropriate photographs.
4. Have a safe person to reach out to, whether that is your parents or a teacher.
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