Saudi Arabia has blocked more than 300,000 inappropriate games on the popular online game Roblox as part of sweeping media reforms aimed at safeguarding families and strengthening accountability in the digital sector.
The action follows the introduction of new media regulation guidelines by the General Authority for Media Regulation (GAMR), which the Ministry of Media says are designed to ensure responsible content in line with Saudi values.
At a press conference in Riyadh on Monday, Minister of Media Salman Al Dossary confirmed that Roblox, in cooperation with Saudi authorities, agreed to disable voice and text chat features and restrict games flagged for violations until stronger monitoring tools are implemented. “Our children are a trust entrusted to us,” the minister stressed, urging parents to supervise their children’s online activity, use parental controls, and ensure age-appropriate content.
Al Dossary explained that GAMR has set clear standards to define content violations, helping creators understand and avoid breaches. Educational workshops have also been organized to raise awareness of the rules and their application in practice. He emphasized that Saudi society’s strong moral values remain the “first and most effective line of defense” against harmful or inappropriate material, noting: “Combating harmful content that contradicts societal values requires decisive action.”
The minister highlighted that public rejection plays a vital role in discouraging negative content. He urged audiences not to engage with harmful material, stating: “What is ignored eventually fades away.” He further clarified that harmful content represents less than one percent of total media output, while positive material, focused on education, awareness, and the promotion of Saudi values, makes up the overwhelming majority.
Al Dossary welcomed the strong public response to the new guidelines, calling them part of a “historic journey” that is turning ambitious goals into tangible achievements. He pointed to Saudi Arabia’s growing global footprint in the media sector, noting that six Saudi organizations recently won nine awards at the Sharjah Government Communication Awards, including three for the Ministry of Media.
He also revealed that more than 14 companies have applied to join the Media Fellowship Program, which will provide over 200 training opportunities in digital media, filmmaking, gaming, and data analytics.