PETALING JAYA: The incident linking the online game Roblox to a nine-year-old boy who allegedly attacked his younger brother in Batu Pahat highlights how unregulated exposure to violent or highly stimulating games can distort emotional responses in children, say experts.
Crime prevention specialist Dr Shamir Rajadurai said that when children lack emotional regulation and empathy, frustration in a virtual world can translate into violence in the real one.
“Many games reward aggression or instant gratification. This isn’t just a parenting issue, it’s a collective failure between parents, schools and the gaming industry.
“Roblox and similar platforms are not just games; they’re social ecosystems, chat rooms, and even economies where strangers can influence your child in real time. Companies like Roblox must make safety a default, not optional.
“We also need stronger emotional-literacy education in schools, counselling support, and accountability from platforms that profit off children’s attention without considering the psychological consequences,” said Shamir, who is also the co-founder of the platform Antibuli.my.
On Oct 29, Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said initial investigations indicated the boy was excessively playing Roblox via mobile phone prior to the alleged attack against his younger brother.
Comm Ab Rahaman said the boy had reportedly accumulated nearly one million points in the game before his brother accidentally damaged his phone, causing him to lose his progress.
During questioning, he said the boy claimed he began experiencing hallucinations, as if instructed to harm his family members.
Roblox is banned in several countries, including China, Turkiye, Oman, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq, primarily due to concerns about child safety, protection and harmful content, while Kuwait and North Korea have restricted access.
Shamir said while Malaysia has no control of foreign servers, it can regulate how those platforms operate within the country.
He suggested the government require all child-targeted apps or games to meet local compliance standards, similar to how financial apps must meet Bank Negara regulations.
This, he said, creates accountability and sends a clear signal to platforms that Malaysia takes child safety very seriously.
Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association president Siraj Jalil said they have not received direct complaints so far regarding the game.
“It has been around for some time, but from our observation, the game has become toxic and poses a danger to children.
“The main issue here is addiction, where anyone can participate in the fantasy world, which also links to current events.
“This makes the kids feel they are part of something similar to adults being on social media.”
On how addictive online games can be controlled to ensure the safety of children, Siraj suggested that Malaysia could follow China’s example by listing banned games on all downloading platforms.
“We cannot compromise when it comes to the issues that harm the safety of children and must act now,” he said.
Siraj also said currently, the Online Safety Act 2024 provides protection against harmful online content like scams, cyberbullying and child sexual exploitation.
The Act also requires social media and messaging platforms with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia to obtain an Applications Service Provider Class licence.
He noted that many applications are segmented and used by specific groups, which can allow misuse.
Siraj also said there were certain games used by children and teenagers to meet up with others.
“Once kids are there, paedophiles tend to gather,” he said.
