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Roblox is minting teen millionaires

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Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#241

Post by foobarian »

kgwxd wrote: post #167
foobarian wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would also add it's easier to download and set up than Minecraft. I still have nightmares about setting up various Microsoft and Xbox accounts and trying to help my kid play with her friends. IMO that Roblox doesn't have this friction is huge

My 9 yo has alt accounts I didn't setup, that's how easy Roblox is. I have MC/Microsoft account info for like 10 people, mostly family/friends kids, in my password manager because their parents were fine with them playing, but didn't want to deal with account management. Every sleep over starts with me logging everyone in on the various available devices, with their parents on standby to help with the multi-factor sh…

In a way I found sketchy/scammy aspects of Roblox helpful to educate my kid about that sort of thing. Early on a classmate scammed her out of some item on AdoptMe, nothing monetary valuable but it shook her and really caused her to think critically about online transactions and security. These days the friend group talks about IP bans and account bans so we did a good session about what IP addresses are, how they work, etc. She also did temper her expectations on how attached to get to the main account since it can get hacked or locked etc.

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#242

Post by xrd »

I admittedly harbor a bunch of resentment towards Roblox for the predatory way they have encircled my childrens' friends, and my children as well, so take my feelings with a grain of salt.

I didn't get far in this article.

It feels like the modern equivalent of "there is a kid named LeBron James who is only 19 and will be make millions in the NBA." Roblox Millionaires might be true, but feels like an anomaly, and in this case, causes serious harm IMHO. Lebron James actually has used his wealth and prominence to make a difference in the world, and if he encouraged kids to get active, it feels like on balance a good thing.

I just don't see a good/happy career path for anyone becoming a Roblox Millionaire no matter whether it is true for even one person. Maybe it isn't the point, but if it isn't, why even celebrate it?

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#243

Post by dogleash »

Aeolun wrote: post #92
jameson wrote: post #91

Roblox is slot machines for kids Games are filled with loot boxes that drop exquisite items on chance. It's a repeated cycle of charging robux only to spend on another slot machine. US regulation is far behind protecting children from such scheme. Japan disallows many forms of such loot boxes due to addictive nature.

It’s not that bad. Sure, all the games allow you to spend money to rapidly get better, but the core gameplay loops work just fine without it.

> the core gameplay loops work just fine without it.

Of course it's functional, it has to string people along for enough time to get them to start paying.

That doesn't mean grinding a system tuned to get you hooked enough to give up and pay is a 'just fine' as a game. It's openly deliberate malicious design.

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#244

Post by grvdrm »

microtonal wrote: post #233
grvdrm wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m a parent. Girls 7 and 4. I think you’re right about a number of parent habits. Hard to impose a device limit on a kid if that kid watches you use your device constantly. I’m not some hero here - constantly reminding myself to be aware. Now, I think imposing limits in the open world is a specific challenge. To your point, you’ll see kids at restaurants on iPads. Well, now your kid wants iPad. You don’t give it? Th…

Now, I think imposing limits in the open world is a specific challenge. To your point, you’ll see kids at restaurants on iPads. Well, now your kid wants iPad. You don’t give it? They start a shitstorm. Our daughter certainly did not have access to an iPad at that age. Maybe she could use her mom's iPad (I don't have one) once every few weeks for a brief period. The shitstorm only happens a few times, they get over it…

My kiddos don't have that access either. They do have their own iPads but not with unlimited access. Most common usage: flights, long drives. Otherwise, no weekday or weekend usage for the most part.

As for the shitstorm, yes, they get used to your rule and calm down. But that was my point: lots of folks overreact and create the vicious cycle. Your kid complains, you give the phone, they shut up. Repeat. Repeat again. Now your kid expects the phone. And now you believe they will only ever stay calm if you give them the phone.

Breaking the cycle requires you to stick to your statements, but also, in public, to not give a shit about embarrassment. When you worry if you're disturbing everyone else or you feel inadequate as a part that can't calm a kid, you might give in. You can't!

PS: multiplayer games in my statement -> multi-player with me. Not internet.

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#245

Post by grvdrm »

alphawhisky wrote: post #217
grvdrm wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m a parent. Girls 7 and 4. I think you’re right about a number of parent habits. Hard to impose a device limit on a kid if that kid watches you use your device constantly. I’m not some hero here - constantly reminding myself to be aware. Now, I think imposing limits in the open world is a specific challenge. To your point, you’ll see kids at restaurants on iPads. Well, now your kid wants iPad. You don’t give it? Th…

Kudos dad/mom, that's a hard job. I feel like getting them exposed to technology and the dopamine generator that is games as a younger kid can help you teach more lessons around managing habits that can become maladaptive. Our world is increasingly engineered for addiction, and having conversations about self control starting young can help develop maturity. I know plenty of friends (2001 baby) that did not have acce…

Yes - I think the general approach of collaborating on things with your kids is the way to go, though not always the path I choose (I'm a normal dad with my own pluses and minuses).

But if you only ever say no, or the reverse, and never explain or attempt to explain, you're missing some opportunities to chat with your kids. They of course need to sort some things on their own too.

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#246

Post by Imustaskforhelp »

GJim wrote: post #237
ekropotin wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who been a teen long time ago, I can’t imaging someone in this age responsibly planning their retirement. I’d 100% blow out all money on some useless crap. If you are really a teen, who can think so clearly and far-sightedly, you are going to have a really bright future as an adult. I wish you luck and please do something good for this world, instead of chasing high paying job in FAANG.

> you are going to have a really bright future as an adult Or waste their most fun years slaving for the man. Signed: Gen-X

> Or waste their most fun years slaving for the man.

For what its worth, even I don't know my future so it's a real possibility. But one of the quotes I really like from Witold Pilecki is that, "In the hour of death, I feel joy rather than death" so although there is no such thing as no-regret life but I would hope to try to have less regrets overall in life in this context.

At some point, it boils down to having a job or not. Maybe my first job's gonna be really slaving as you mention. It's hard to know but I pray for a decent job/college hopefully that's got some good work-life balance hopefully.

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#247

Post by Thorrez »

>Founded in 2004, Roblox paid out $1.5 billion to game creators last year. On average, the top 1,000 developers — individuals or companies — earned $1.3 million, according to the company.

So 87% of payouts go to the top 1000 developers.

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#248

Post by sghitbyabazooka »

jiggunjer wrote: post #164
sghitbyabazooka wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that also has a cap, you're not getting more than $6 per 1000 robux there, which is a little under double the official rate but still only 2 thirds of what users actually paid for said robux. not including the risk of the platform banning you.

You're implying I can buy 1000 rbx for 10 usd. But I have been paying 5 times that in my country... So is the cash out rate also variable by country?

i picked the 10k robux for $100 package as the baseline - the grey market has never reached that ceiling. no, when cashing out, 1 robux is 1 robux, doesn't matter what currency you paid for it. an exception was if the robux was old, from the period where you could trade tix (free) for robux, but i don't think that applies anymore

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#249

Post by amiga386 »

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #195
roysting wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best you could hope for is regulation of the delta or maybe enforcement of markets. The problem is really that such abuse is a kind of debt bondage, you have no other choices but essentially the Roblox company store. It’s a newish form of the same abuse due to the nature of tech, game addiction, and the decay of culture and society; but it’s also why society has not developed a response against that particular pr…

It’s not debt bondage in Roblox. It’s company scrip https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_scrip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRh0QiXyZSk

    You load sixteen tons, what do you get?
    Another day older and deeper in debt
    Saint Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
    I owe my soul to the company store

Re: Roblox is minting teen millionaires

#250

Post by bstsb »

giarc wrote: post #207
amiga386 wrote: post #38

Roblox turns a blind eye to child exploitation (whether being creeped on by adults, or being exploited by teens/adults to make games) and makes a fortune out of it. If it weren't online, it'd be illegal and people would be in jail. Also, Roblox's favourite thing - other than sitting back and rolling in the cash that their playerbase generated for them - is puff pieces in the news talking about how people who make gam…

My kids play Roblox and get often get gift cards from friends for birthday presents etc. I've always hated that a gift card for $20 can't be redeemed for the equivalent Robux. Instead you get options to purchase Robux and the most you can redeem is about ~$16, so then you have left over cash and have to get another gift card. Dark pattern.

visit this page and click the bright blue, prominent button labeled "Convert to Robux":

https://www.roblox.com/my/account#!/billing

you will receive the exact amount you would get from the equivalent conversion rate of the closest "package"

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