<span>STORY: A ban on the US gaming platform Roblox here in Russia has sparked a debate among some children and their parents about censorship and the usefulness of bans in a world where players can exceed limits with a few clicks.</span><span>Polina Gerina is a 14-year-old in Moscow and an avid user.</span><span>“I don’t remember exactly when I started playing Roblox, but I was very young. My sister and I started playing together.”</span><span>Her 11-year-old sister Darya is equally enthusiastic.</span><span>“It (Roblox) is a great space where you can express yourself. We choose how you play and what you play. In this game, you can create your own heroes and decide what they look like. Roblox is about absolute freedom.” </span><span>Russia’s communications watchdog said on December 3 that it had blocked access to Roblox, saying it was “full of inappropriate content,” spread extremist and LGBT propaganda and was popular with pedophiles.</span><span>In an e-mail to Reuters, a Roblox spokesman said the company was ready “to temporarily limit communication features in Russia and review our content moderation processes.”</span><span>The company said it strives to “create a safe and age-appropriate environment for every user.”</span><span>Russian officials, who disagree with the West on the war in Ukraine, say censorship is necessary to defend against Western “information warfare.”</span><span>Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube are all blocked or restricted.</span><span>Nina Ostantina is a lawmaker in Russia’s lower house of parliament who supports the banning of Roblox.</span><span>“By using negative content, they try to involve children in these activities. I don’t see any other purpose. Otherwise, the producers of this game would not be interested in it.”</span><span>:: Tomsk, Russia / December 14, 2025</span><span>:: Anton Isakov</span><span>But the ban on Roblox struck a nerve, prompting a small rally in the Siberian city of Tomsk in which protesters held banners reading “Hands off Roblox” and “Roblox is the victim of the digital Iron Curtain.”</span><span>Polina and Darya’s mother, Maria Gerina, is a school art teacher and has a mixed view of the games her children find on Roblox. </span><span>She says she likes to connect with friends and play, but finds some of the games too violent. </span><span>“But I don’t think a complete ban will solve the problem. If there is no Roblox, then there will be something else.”</span><span>Many Russians use Virtual Private Networks or VPNs to circumvent digital censorship.</span><span>Hundreds of VPNs have been banned this year but new ones are popping up, prompting some young Russians to wonder why authorities ban apps or sites that can be easily accessed, and why there are few Russian alternatives to them.</span><span>Konstantine Sakhnov is a game developer and says that Roblox has about two million daily active users in Russia alone. </span><span>“It is very important to remember that Roblox has parental controls. Therefore, it is possible that the responsibility shifts from Roblox to the parents, where it belongs. Each parent must customize these controls for his child. In this context, it is sad that Roblox is banned because there is no direct alternative.”</span><span>Eleven-year-old Darya told Reuters: “I think the kids will still find a way. There were blocks on other apps, and we found ways to bypass them. So I think nothing will change – we, the kids, will find a way and keep playing.”</span>
