Children have been participating in virtual pro-Palestinian protests on Roblox as a result of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, and to this point, a single demonstration area has been visited 275,000 times or more.Videos and prior livestreams of a particular demonstration showed players marching on simulated brick roads filled with Palestinian flags and large markers saying "Solidarity for you Palestine."Research from Roblox in December 2022 uncovered that more than 4 out of 10 Roblox players are under 12 years old, with 60% being 16 or under.
Children are joining pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Roblox amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, and so far, the pro-Palestinian virtual protest has been visited by over 275,000 people. YouTube videos and past livestreams of at least one rally have surfaced showing participants marching on virtual streets with Palestinian flags and large signs that read "Solidarity Untukmu Palestine." This Malay phrase translates to "Solidarity for you Palestine," according to Google Translate. Malaysia has been the home to pro-Palestinian rallies, and the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has expressed disapproval of Israel's airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. CNBC confirmed the signage while visiting the digital protest, which by now has been visited more than 275,000 times, though Roblox confirms that the count may consist of repeated visits from the same user. Those present at the event were given the option of raising a Palestinian, a Malaysian, or no flag.
According to Roblox's data from December 2020, 45% of its users are aged 12 or below, and 60% are 16 and younger. Only 17% of the users are 25 or older. A few social media comments indicate that mothers and fathers assert their children attended or planned to attend the Roblox experience. A spokesperson from Roblox declared to CNBC that the occurrence "did appear on our platform," and that it is one of several pro-Palestinian protests on Roblox known to the company.
The protests follow in the wake of the recent loss of life and destruction in Israel and Gaza. On the 7th of October, Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization, carried out attacks near the Israel-Gaza boundary leading to the deaths of civilians and foreign kidnappings. The next day, Israel declared war and began implementing a siege of Gaza, removing accessibility to power, food, water, and fuel. According to a representative for the Israeli Defense Forces, as of Wednesday, the death toll of Israelis has reached 1,400. For Gaza and the West Bank, the health ministries in the region have reported that the death toll is over 6,600.
Roblox has mentioned that its Community Standards allow for expressions of solidarity, but forbids any material that endorses or condones violence, promotes terrorism or hatred towards certain groups or groups, or calls for the support of a particular political party. Roblox has a team of moderators and automated detection tools to monitor and take rapid action against any content or individuals who violate its rules.
top of page
bottom of page
Comments