Out of curiosity (I have 2 that are into it) what did they 'get' by you relenting and allowing them to spend Robux? Is it just cosmetics or are there certain games/modes/experiences that are only available if you pay?

Some of it is relatively benign cosmetic items for your avatar, like Fortnite. There is definitely a stigma associated with having "bacon hair" which is the default. Or the ability to play on a server with just your friends.

Other times it is a shortcut to stuff that you could get by grinding. $5 gets you twice the XP (experience points) so you can unlock new weapons, levels, etc. Individual games sometimes take this to extremes, I once calculated I would have to play an hour a day for a week to get an item I could unlock for a buck.

The worst ones (Epic Mini-Games, I'm looking at you!) are the ones where you can outright pay to win by breaking the game mechanics. Turn yourself invisible, big honking sword that you can't earn, double your chances of being selected for something special.

For the most part the games are truly free to play. You can play in all the modes that are available to paying customers.

There are some free hairs available:

https://www.roblox.com/catalog?Category=11&Subcategory=20&Cu...

https://www.roblox.com/catalog?Category=4&Subcategory=37&Cur...

Also you can just go bald for a LEGO-like look, which has always been my favorite.

You can also pay for a private server too with robux. My kids earn robux if they do chores or read a book etc... Right now it is a good positive reinforcement reward system.

I'm over 40 and stigma for not spending money was also a thing when I was a kid. I still remember discussions about who had the trendiest school backpack. I'm not saying that it's a good thing, just noticing that it would still be there even if you took a "no videogames" stance.

This may shock you, but kids do exactly the same kind of thing in regards to clothes, food, and even inanities like brands of pens and pencils.

Hell, when it comes to social signalling via "stuff" much of society does this.

Doesn't make it right though.

But I'd say an instant canceling of your child's account for a frequent societal phenomenon is a bit overdramatic, even if it's not right.

I'd even go so far as to say it is the incorrect response.

Educate your kid as to what happened and what they can do about it then let your kid figure out how they want to respond.

If they are going to come across it for the rest of their life they might as well know how to deal with it.

That was not the case during my childhood in Europe.

Which Europe was that, and did you live among humans at the time?

When and where? It was very much the case in all 3 European countries I grew up in.

Not the OP but my kids (8,9) spend allowance on robux. Mostly it lets them build a big house for their friends to come over (in game) and play with them. They pair Roblox with video chat as their online hangout.

Tbh I'm not 100% sure, but I think a bit of both. Given that for quite some time it was his primary means of communication with some of his friends, it felt unnecessarily restrictive not to let him join in fully with what they were up to.

Obviously any major expense was out of the question and he knows that, but seeing as they "run around" their Roblox worlds just like they might run around a playground or wood, it felt a fair compromise. And he learns about having to work for a reward in the process.

ed: I should say I believe there are public groups on Roblox that you have to pay Robux to join. He's not allowed that.

Every Roblox game is different, the developer is free to monetize their world in any way they want to..

It could be skins or abilities or anything else that is part of the world.

There are per game purchases (thousands of games) and system wide cosmetic purchases.