Screenshot taken by CNBC of an experience on Roblox.
Source: Roblox
Kids are attending pro-Palestine protests on Roblox within the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, and to date, a pro-Palestine virtual protest has been visited greater than 275,000 times.
Videos circulating on social media and past livestreams of a minimum of one event showed users marching on virtual brick streets lined with Palestinian flags and enormous signs that read “Solidarity Untukmu Palestine,” a phrase including a Malay term that translates to “Solidarity for you Palestine,” in response to Google Translate. Malaysia has been the location of pro-Palestine protests, and the country’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, recently criticized Israel’s air strikes within the Gaza Strip.
CNBC confirmed the signage by signing on to the virtual protest area, which has now been visited greater than 275,000 times, although Roblox confirmed to CNBC that that count can include multiple visits by one user. Attendees could choose from virtually raising a Palestinian flag, a Malaysian flag or no flag.
About 45% of Roblox users are 12 years old or younger, in response to Roblox data from December 2022, and 60% of users were 16 or younger. Just 17% of users are age 25 or older, per the identical company report. Social media comments viewed by CNBC appeared to show parents saying that their daughters and sons had joined, or planned on joining, the experience on Roblox.
A Roblox spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the experience “did appear on our platform,” adding that the protest showcased in viral videos was considered one of multiple pro-Palestine protests on Roblox that the corporate is aware of.
The protests follow weeks of death and destruction in Israel and Gaza. On Oct. 7, Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization, carried out attacks near the Israel-Gaza border, killing civilians and taking hostages, and the next day, Israel declared war and commenced implementing a siege of Gaza, cutting off access to power, food, water and fuel. As of Wednesday, greater than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, in response to a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces; in Gaza and the West Bank, the death toll is greater than 6,600, in response to two health ministries within the region.Â
“While our Community Standards allow for expressions of solidarity, we don’t allow for content that endorses or condones violence, promotes terrorism or hatred against individuals or groups, or calls for supporting a selected political party,” a Roblox spokesperson told CNBC. “We now have an authority team of hundreds of moderators together with automated detection tools in place to observe our platform and can take swift motion against any content or individuals found to be in violation of our standards.”
