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Roblox and the reality check: How safe is your child’s digital playground?

“Everyone’s fighting here and using bad language.”

Abu Dhabi-based Claire Holland would after hear her eight-year-old son muttering while playing online games. “One day, he refused to leave the game. He was aggressive, because somebody was challenging and abusing him. He wanted to keep fighting back, and was resorting to similar tactics, which really terrified us,” explains Holland.

She banned him from games, and he grew withdrawn and resentful. “He tried playing from his friends phones, and that’s when I knew that we had to sit and really sort this out, because it was getting worse,” she says.

It took a series of conversations. But, as Holland noted, there is something brutally intimidating about a bully that you cannot see. You don’t know who they are, and you might not even be able to track them down. “They say a couple of things, and they’re gone.”

He stopped playing for a while. And when he did, he preferred not to talk to anyone, she explains. “I’m not sure if that’s the best solution either, because I know that most of these games, too, offer good community support. But maybe, we’ll get him to play and enjoy, without engaging in such battles,” she says.

Holland’s uncertainty mirrors that of many parents today — unsure where to draw the line between protection and participation in their children’s digital worlds.

And few platforms capture that tension quite like Roblox.

The fear of Roblox

Roblox isn’t a single game . It’s an entire universe of them. When children log in, they’re stepping into a vast digital playground packed with over 11 million ‘experiences’ everything from obstacle courses (“obbys”) and flight simulators to waterparks, racetracks, and virtual schools. None of these worlds are made by Roblox itself.

Every experience is player-created, dreamed up, designed, and built by users of all ages. On Roblox, children can deliver pizzas, raise pets, chop down trees, or strut down a virtual runway — all in the same afternoon.

In 2024 alone, players spent a staggering 73.5 billion hours inside this ever-expanding metaverse. But Roblox is also a launchpad for creativity. Children can build their own games and learn the foundations of coding along the way, turning playtime into a hands-on lesson in digital design.

However, is it safe? Not entirely. Roblox comes with real risks — from exposure to explicit content to the ability to chat with strangers. Still, with proper parental controls and supervision, many parents see potential benefits: creativity, coding, and community.

The real question is — can the good outweigh the risks?

What does online safety mean in today’s world?

It’s more than just filters and bans. It’s preparing them to think, feel and act responsibly in digital spaces.

As Sarah Maamari, psychologist of children, adolescents, and families at Sage Clinics explains, monitoring alone, can give a false sense of security because children’s decision-making and self-control develop gradually, just like other life skills. “The real task is to coach rather than police,” she says. “That means creating ongoing, age-appropriate conversations about what your child is seeing online, exploring together how reliable content is, and how it makes them feel.”

Maamari recommends co-creating digital house rules as shared agreements rather than strict limits. You need to explain the ‘why’ behind your reasons, rather than just talking in restrictions and bans. “ “Instead of simply restricting screen time, talk about why balance matters and ask your child to notice how their mood or energy changes after a long online session,” she says.

Online safety in 2025 also encompasses mental well-being. In 2025, “online safety” goes beyond just privacy; it is about digital well-being, and emotional resilience. Constant exposure to advertisements, lifestyle content, and curated collections that showcase a specific way to look and act can be detrimental to their emotional development, explains Professor Mercedes Sheen, Head of Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

Moreover, it’s far beyond keeping personal details private. It also means protecting mental health. Children’s brains and self-regulation skills are still developing, they’re more vulnerable to constant stimulation, unrealistic comparisons, and harmful communities,” explains Maamari.

Starting the right conversations

So, where do parents even begin? Experts agree that the first conversations about online safety should start with values, not fear.

The first conversations about online safety, experts agree, should start with values, not fear. Parents can begin with three key principles:

Respect: Treat people online as you would in real life.
Boundaries: Not all spaces or conversations are safe, and it’s okay to step away.
Feelings as signals: If something makes you feel uneasy or pressured, share it with a trusted adult.

Maamari adds, “Children learn best when they feel safe and supported, not scared. Frame the internet as a ‘neighbourhood’ — with both safe parks and risky alleys.”

• Does it sound “too good to be true”?

• Does it make you feel uncomfortable or pressured?

By role-playing these scenarios with your child, you give them a chance to rehearse how they’d respond. Most importantly, reassure them that if they encounter something unsafe, they won’t be punished or shamed; they’ll be supported. This open-door approach encourages disclosure and keeps communication strong.

Tools that teach digital kindness

To make lessons stick, learning can also be fun. “Apps like Google’s Interland (Be Internet Awesome) turn online safety into interactive adventures,” says Maamari. “Others, like Digi Duck stories or Cyberwise resources, make these lessons engaging for younger children.”

Addressing bullying and screen balance

What do the mums of UAE feel? Some like Aatrayee Gopinath prefer to keep their children away from online gaming till they are at the age of 12. “Right now, I prefer they play some basic gaming, and that too supervised. Nothing that involves any online community, because I’m always worried about the people out there,” she says.

Others like Abu Dhabi’s Lavanya Munish have had conversations,as her children want to game just like their classmates. “My child has been bullied already so much, that I don’t wish for them to face the stress of invisible bullies,” she says.

So, how do you have these conversations, especially when there’s much resentment. “The best time to have these conversations is before children face these challenges,” says Sheen. “Parents can explain what bullying and hate speech look like online, using clear examples, and teach empathy by discussing how words affect others, even behind a screen.”

She adds that parents are the most powerful influence that a child can have. “It is therefore incumbent on the parents to model healthy screen habits for their children — by limiting their own screen time, avoiding devices during meals, and prioritising real-world connection.”

Gulf news

travel

Visiting the US is about to get more expensive for foreign travelers

Visitors to the US from some of the nation’s closest allies will soon be required to pay higher fees outlined in the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Specifically, a hike to the fees associated with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which processes travel applications from residents of more than 40 countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program.

Those countries include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and most of Europe, as well as a handful of countries in other regions, including Qatar in the Middle East.

Prior to the passage of President Trump’s signature legislation, applicants to the ESTA system, as it’s known, paid $21. Now that mandatory fee will nearly double on September 30 to $40.

It’s one of several fee increases associated with travel to the US from abroad. Travelers arriving through a land border will also see their fees go up with an increase inthe I-94 Arrival/Departure Record cost. Right now, travelers required to pay the fee only have to part with $6.
That amount jumps to $30 at the end of the month.

Lastly, travelers from China will be asked to pay a $30 enrollment fee for the Electronic Visa Update System. The September 30 effective date for the fee increases was outlined in a recent notice in the Federal Register.

The increase in fees, combined with the looming $250 “visa integrity fee” for many travelers from non-visa waiver countries, comes at a time when travel to the US from abroad is in a major slump.

As CNN’s Natasha Chen reported, many Canadians and other international visitors to the US are staying away. The World Travel and Tourism Council projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025. It was the only country out of 184 economies analyzed by the council, a global tourism advocacy organization, that will see a decline this year.

The new visa integrity fee has not yet been applied. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security repeated to CNN that it “requires cross-agency coordination before implementation.”

Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown said he didn’t think the increase in fees will be much of a “hindrance” for most travelers. But he said the visa integrity fee is an entirely new thing.

“It will be intriguing to see because lots of questions are out there,” he told CNN Travel. “So we pay the fee, but how does it get refunded? Who is tracking compliance? How do you prove compliance?”

Source: CNN

Business

New Saudi rules limit foreign property ownership from 2026

Saudi Arabia restricts foreign property ownership with new rules from January 2026

November 07, 2025

New rules limit foreign property rights in Saudi ArabiaReuters

Dubai: Foreigners in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to own only registered properties and must disclose all required information under new real estate ownership rules set to take effect January 2026, the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) said.

10% combined fees and strict penalties

The updated law, part of the Law of Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis approved in July, introduces a combined 10 percent in fees and taxes on foreign ownership. Violations could result in fines of up to SR10 million, and properties bought through false information will be auctioned publicly.

Who can own property

Five categories of non-Saudis will be eligible:

Foreign individuals
Foreign companies
Saudi companies with foreign shareholders
Non-profit entities
Diplomatic missions

Ownership zones and regulations

REGA is expected to publish detailed maps and guidelines soon, covering cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, and other governorates. These will specify permissible ownership percentages, property types, grace periods, and procedural rules.

Foreigners and foreign companies may buy property for residential or business use in designated zones, but ownership will remain subject to fees, restrictions, and regulatory procedures outlined in the law’s executive regulations.

Health

three types of workouts to reduce lower back pain

Daily Mail

It’s an ache that most of us will suffer at some point – and for millions, it can be relentless.

Globally, more than 600 million adults experience some form of back pain, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

NHS figures show that eight in ten people in the UK will endure it at some point. While most cases are not serious and resolve within a few weeks, for others the pain can drag on for months or even years.

A survey by the British Chiropractic Association found that half of Britons have suffered back pain for a year or longer.

Now an orthopaedic surgeon has revealed three simple home workouts that she says can help ease discomfort, strengthen the spine and reduce the chances of pain returning.

Dr Pamela Mehta, from Resilience Orthopaedics in the US, says the key is to build core strength, improve flexibility and keep muscles active.

‘For most people with back pain, the best exercises are ones that strengthen your core and improve mobility through your hips,’ she told HuffPost.

For years, patients were told that bed rest was the best remedy. But this approach has long been debunked.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, ‘rest in bed as little as possible’. It warns: ‘Too much bed rest weakens your muscles and could slow your recovery. Get up and move around as soon as you can.’

However, it adds that you should pay attention to pain and twinges, and stop to rest if needed, as ‘your body may be trying to prevent you from harming your back.’

The NHS advises seeing a GP if back pain doesn’t improve after a few weeks, is severe, interferes with daily activities or is getting worse. You should seek urgent medical advice or call 111 if you have a fever, lose weight unexpectedly, notice a lump or change in back shape, or if pain worsens at night, spreads to the upper back or is triggered by sneezing, coughing or using the toilet.

Otherwise, the guidance is to stay active, continue with day-to-day activities, take painkillers such as ibuprofen, use ice or heat packs, and do stretches.

Dr Mehta’s prescription involves three simple categories: stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercise.

1. Stretching

If you’ve ruled out a slipped disc – when a soft cushion of tissue between the bones of the spine bulges outwards – the cause is often soft-tissue strain. This accounts for about eight in ten cases of back pain and occurs when tiny muscles in the back are pulled or irritated.

These muscles don’t need rest – they need gentle movement.

‘Start with simple stretches like cat-cow or child’s pose to ease stiffness and get the spine moving,’ says Dr Mehta.

The cat-cow stretch, inspired by yoga, involves getting on all fours with hands aligned under shoulders. Breathe in as you drop your belly and lift your head to look upwards – the ‘cow’ position. Then exhale as you arch your back towards the ceiling and tuck your chin to your chest – the ‘cat’ position. Repeat slowly several times to release tension from neck to lower spine.

The child’s pose begins from a kneeling position. Stretch your arms straight ahead, rest your forehead on the floor (or on a pillow if needed) and keep your bottom on your heels.

Both moves help relieve tightness in muscles surrounding the spine, which, according to Harvard Health, can worsen back pain when left tense.

2. Core strengthening

Next come the core-strengthening exercises, which stabilise the spine and reduce strain on the lower back.

Dr Mehta suggests starting with bridges, which help keep the spine aligned. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Inhale deeply, then lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees. Hold for five to ten seconds, then exhale as you lower your hips back down slowly. Increase the hold time as your strength improves.

Another useful move is the bird-dog. Begin on all fours, hands under shoulders. Inhale, then as you exhale, extend your right arm forward and your left leg back simultaneously, keeping your core tight and back flat. Return to start and repeat on the opposite side.

Finally, planks – a staple of most core routines – can be performed for 15 to 60 seconds depending on your fitness level. Start on elbows and knees, lock your hands together, then straighten your legs so your body forms a straight line from head to heels. Don’t let your back arch or your bottom lift. Build up the time gradually.

3. Aerobic activity

The last component is aerobic or cardiovascular exercise, which improves circulation, strengthens supporting muscles and helps prevent stiffness.

While it may sound counter-intuitive, walking can be one of the best remedies. A 2025 study found that walking for at least 100 minutes per week lowered the risk of developing chronic low back pain by 23 per cent.

Dr Mehta recommends ‘low-impact aerobics’ such as walking, swimming or using an elliptical machine, which keep muscles active without jarring joints.

‘What matters most,’ she adds, ‘is consistency and good form.’

If the pain lingers beyond a few weeks, or if you experience shooting pain down your leg, she says it’s important to seek medical advice.

In rare cases, persistent back pain can be a sign of something more serious.

When back pain signals something sinister

The NHS warns that, occasionally, back pain may be a symptom of cancer.

Last month, Leak Kalkan, a 23-year-old student from West Yorkshire, revealed how her persistent back pain – dismissed for years as sciatica – turned out to be caused by a tumour.

She saw her GP several times a week, describing debilitating pain that left her unable to function. Despite multiple scans and referrals, she was repeatedly told her symptoms were due to a slipped disc.

In 2023, a hard lump ‘the size of a grapefruit’ appeared on her lower back. When her GP refused to assess private scans carried out abroad, she sought another opinion and was finally diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

Her story is a reminder that while most back pain is harmless and treatable, it should never be ignored if it persists, worsens, or comes with other unusual symptoms.

As Dr Mehta says: ‘For the majority of people, the right combination of movement, stretching and strength training can make a huge difference. Your back needs to move to heal.’