Roblox is a great example of a good idea turned to shit by capitalism.
A game builder designed simply enough for kids to use was a GREAT idea. Letting developers throw together half assed obbies and “simulator” games with micro transactions was a terrible idea.
But no, I wouldn’t call it social media. It’s an online video game.
I agree completely. I work in a middle school and most of my kids love Roblox; that being said, they tend to play with each other instead of just chatting with random people. I used to do that all the time in StarCraft/Diablo lobbies, definitely wouldn’t call it social media.
But is Roblox a problem? Absolutely.
it’s a child labor machine
Is a video game social media? Is Roblox a video game? Is simply having social functions enough to define social media or is more necessary?
When I think of social media, I think of forums, Reddit, Lemmy, Facebook, Discord, etc. Platforms and software with the sole or primary purpose of providing social interaction between users. I don’t see video games as social media, though they may contain some content that provides a similar function such as an ingame chat.
Vintage Story and Dead by Daylight both contain ingame chat and multiplayer functionality, but I don’t see either as social media. Though if one were to define social media in a literal sense then they would qualify. Is Roblox any different?
I should have documented myself before allowing my kid to play. Roblox is clearly developing addictions and is the worse for micro transactions.
