Shares of Roblox Corporation (RBLX) plummeted 5.03% during intraday trading on Thursday, underperforming the broader markets. The sell-off came amid concerns over potential regulatory headwinds after a New York state senator introduced a new online safety bill specifically aimed at the popular kids' gaming platform.
The proposed New York Children's Online Safety Act (NYCOSA) would require platforms frequented by minors to make user profiles private by default, preventing strangers from viewing them or sending messages and digital currencies. It would also give parents more control over their children's accounts, mandate age verification systems, and ban deceptive practices to get kids to make purchases.
Roblox, with an estimated two-thirds of its over 50 million daily active users being children under 16, is seen as a prime target of the NYCOSA bill. If enacted, the legislation could force significant changes to Roblox's platform and business model around user interactions, parental controls, and monetization from its younger user base. This has raised investor concerns over potential compliance costs and impacts on the company's growth prospects, contributing to Thursday's stock selloff.
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