Roblox players, there’s a big update coming on August 7th that has many in the community buzzing with concern.
The update has sparked widespread fears that Roblox will begin selling users’ personal data, including names, addresses, credit card information, and private messages. But what’s really going on?
What’s Actually Happening on August 7th?
On July 24th, the Roblox community began to take notice when the Roblox Twitter account, RTC, announced that starting on August 7th, Roblox would “sell, share, and process your personal data for advertisers.” This led to an outcry across social media platforms like TikTok, where users expressed fears that their private information would be exposed.
If you check your Roblox messages, you’ll find an official communication from Roblox explaining the upcoming changes. According to this message, Roblox is updating its privacy policy to allow for the sharing of personal data to target advertising more effectively. However, it’s crucial to understand what this actually means.
Roblox Isn’t Selling Your Sensitive Information
While it’s understandable that players, particularly younger ones, are worried, the reality of the situation isn’t as dire as it might seem. Roblox isn’t planning to sell your phone number, real name, address, or credit card details. Instead, what Roblox is doing is something many companies already do—they’re using your in-platform activities to provide targeted advertising.
For example, Roblox will analyze the games you play, the items your avatar wears, and the searches you make within the platform. This data will then be used to serve you ads that align with your interests. If you’re into horror games like Piggy or competitive games like MM2, you might start seeing more ads related to those interests. It’s a practice similar to what companies like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have been doing for years.
Why Is Roblox Doing This?
The primary reason Roblox is implementing this change is to increase revenue. Targeted advertising is a lucrative business model that allows companies to make more money by showing users ads that they are more likely to engage with. While this is a common practice across many digital platforms, it still raises concerns about privacy.
What Can You Do About It?
If you’re uncomfortable with Roblox using your data in this way, there is something you can do. Starting August 7th, you’ll have the option to opt out of this data sharing in your Roblox settings. While the exact location of this setting isn’t yet visible, it will be accessible in your account settings once the update goes live.
To protect your privacy, it’s recommended to visit your settings on or after August 7th and opt out of this data sharing if it concerns you. While this won’t stop Roblox from using your data entirely, it will limit the extent to which they can share your activity with advertisers.
For more information on how to protect your privacy online, visit this guide.
As always, it’s important to stay informed and take control of your digital footprint, especially when platforms you trust make changes to their privacy policies.
