[tyleo]

I’ll have to watch the video. It looks like there is some missing context in the article alone.

Still not sure how I feel. On the fence but leaning more good than bad. The thing I cant get past is “what else would a kid do with their time?” Even if its not a great way to make money, it seems like a better use of time than what I did. It just seems like it still provides a strong learning opportunity.

I think there may be a different argument about whether it exploits developers generally and not just kids.

[kortilla]

The argument you’re making could just as easily be applied to having kids “compete cleaning tables at a restaurant” where the winner for the day gets $10.

Once money is in the equation, all of the incentives change and it’s not about “learning opportunities” or fun.

[PoignardAzur]

Play Minecraft?

Learn a programming language and write small games in Unity/Godot/whatever? Make levels in LittleBigPlanet/Dreams?

To be fair, those options can get exploitative too, but Roblox feels on another level. The only time I played Roblox, I distinctly remember thinking "the only people who would put money into this are kids who don't know any better".

[Tostino]

It can be a "good" for the child, while still being exploitative. Take care of the exploitation, and don't destroy the "good" parts. I don't think it's an entirely binary situation.