Roblox and the rise of “brainrot”

Deryn Theone Hipe

Once a space for play and creativity, Roblox now sits at the center of national security fears and rising concerns over digital overstimulation.

Last March 18, Department of Information and Communications Technology DICT Secretary Henry Aguda announced on Facebook that the popular video game has been placed under government monitoring, citing reports of child exploitation and grooming. The move is being carried out in coordination with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).

According to the post, Roblox may face restriction or suspension in the Philippines if it fails to cooperate with authorities in enforcing stricter child protection policies by the end of the month.

“Ang balak namin, pag hindi sumagot sa amin si Roblox, kakausapin namin ang mga telcos para i-ban sila. At ito, mas intensive ang banning natin kasi kakausapin din natin si Google Play Store at Apple Store para magkaroon ng geo-fencing dito sa larong ito. Kahit ang application hindi na magamit dito,” said Undersecretary Renato “Aboy” Paraiso of the CICC.

(Our plan is, if Roblox does not respond, we will talk to the telcos so they may ban them. This ban is also more intensive, as we will also talk to Google Play Store and Apple Store to implement geo-fencing for this game. Even the app will no longer be usable.)

Behind the government’s decision are growing concerns about what children may be exposed to on the platform.

Past cases and public response

Concerns over Roblox’s child protection policies are not new. In December 2025, around 80 cases alleging that the platform facilitated child exploitation were gathered before a court in San Francisco.

One of the cases filed by a minor alleged that a predator posing as a child contacted her, sent her sexually explicit images, and attempted to assault her in-person.

A 2024 Bloomberg investigation also found that reports of child exploitation submitted by Roblox to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) increased from 2,973 in 2022 to 13,316 in 2023, based on the company’s own data.

In the Philippines, these concerns have been echoed in public reaction to the government’s move. Some parents have expressed support for potential restrictions, citing fears over children’s exposure to harmful content and online predators, while others raised concerns about access and overregulation.

One parent, Josephine Caber, noticed a behavioral change in her 10-year-old son after he began spending more time on the platform.

“Ano siya, maingay. ‘Yung sigaw ng sigaw. Kaya minsan sinasaway ko siya. Parang lagi siyang galit. Tapos pag namamatay siya dun sa games, nagagalit din siya, nag-iiba ‘yung mood niya,” Caber said.

(He gets noisy. Shouts a lot. That’s why I discipline him sometimes. It’s like he’s always angry. Then, when he dies in the games, he also gets mad, and his mood changes.)

On the other hand, some have described the proposed ban as “unjustified,” arguing that the issue lies more in parental supervision than in the platform itself.

A commenter on the Facebook post wrote that “banning a game is a lazy solution that ignores the real issue which is lack of parental responsibility and digital guidance.”

As debates over digital responsibility continue, concerns have also shifted toward how prolonged exposure to platforms like Roblox may be affecting children’s attention spans and behavior—often described online as “brainrot.”

Attention in the digital age

The term “brainrot” is commonly used online to describe low-quality digital content, and more broadly, the negative effects of excessive social media use. While it is not a scientific term, it is often used to describe concerns about how prolonged exposure to digital platforms may affect attention and behavior.

When people use these platforms, the brain releases dopamine, a chemical linked to pleasure and reward. Over time, this can reinforce repeated use, creating a cycle where users seek more of the same stimulation.

 “It’s constantly creating an environment that our brains are not equipped to deal with—that’s the real problem. We’re single-minded creatures and when all this information is coming at us, we want to consume everything and it’s hard to turn off that desire,” According to Earl Miller, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Some studies have pointed to links between heavy screen use and changes in attention, memory, and information retention, particularly among younger users. However, researchers caution that these effects vary depending on the type of content, duration of use, and level of supervision.

In this context, Roblox is built around user-generated content, social interaction, and continuous gameplay—features that can maintain engagement, particularly among younger users. As platforms become more interactive and reward-driven, researchers continue to examine how extended use may relate to attention and behavior in children.

As scrutiny over Roblox continues, the platform’s place in children’s digital lives is being more closely examined—not only in terms of safety, but also how prolonged engagement with online spaces may shape behavior and attention. How these concerns are addressed may ultimately influence how similar platforms are approached in the years ahead.