Qatar banned Roblox primarily to protect children and teenagers from safety and moral threats posed by the game. The ban followed a surge of social media calls in Qatar expressing concerns about harmful interactions, virtual assaults, and violations of religious, cultural, and moral values occurring within the platform. Authorities view these interactive digital spaces, where children experience real-life-like interactions, as potentially exposing minors to manipulation, exploitation, and destructive behavior. Although Roblox remains downloadable on app stores, users in Qatar cannot access the platform online. The ban was reportedly triggered by incidents documented in the game, including virtual assaults and inappropriate content, leading to fears over child safety and negative psychological and behavioral influences on minors. This move is part of a wider global trend where similar concerns have led other countries like Turkey, Oman, China, Kuwait, and Bahrain to also restrict or ban Roblox due to child protection issues.
Thus, Qatar's ban on Roblox is rooted in safeguarding children from unsafe content and interactions available on a platform that functions more like an open digital community rather than just a game.
