It Almost Weirder That Grown Man On Roblox Isn't Grooming Children
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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Boston's Age Strong Commission expands senior programming
Among the enthusiastic attendees was Diane Giacalone, 80, who frequents the weekly programming with her two close friends, Mimi Largey Lyons, 78, and Linda Santamaria, 76. 'The Three Amigos,' Giacalone calls them. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The longtime friends, who live in the neighborhood, participate in the programming any chance they get, with some of their favorites being Broadway dancing class and aerobics. They began attending events after the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to get out of the house and physically strengthen themselves, as well as strengthen their minds and foster new friendships. They all agree: The programming is 'life changing.' Boston's Advertisement Demand has been high, and since January, five new satellite locations for seniors opened at community centers to help meet it. The extra day of programming at the Elks Lodge , adding Wednesdays to their previous Tuesday/Thursday schedule, is the final satellite expansion the commission has planned for this year. It is in partnership with Wu was at the Elks Lodge to help kick off the celebration, as were Age Strong's commissioner, Emily Shea, City Councilors Benjamin Weber and Erin Murphy, state Representatives Rob Consalvo and William McGregor, and state Senator Michael Rush. 'For Boston to be a home for everyone, it needs to be a home for every generation,' Wu told a Globe reporter after her speech to the West Roxbury seniors. Mayor Michelle Wu has her picture made with daughter Mira and Age Strong programming attendee Corinne Balsamo. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff In her Offerings at each location, Shea said, are designed for a neighborhood's specific needs, whether that be activities in Spanish and Creole or simply more frequent activities. 'It's so important because each neighborhood is so different,' Shea said. The commission hosts a variety of drop-in classes throughout the week at these new locations. Participants can enjoy physical activities such as chair yoga and ballroom dancing, and creative activities such as watercolor painting and jewelry making. Participants just looking for good conversation and company can enjoy snacks, coffee, and board games throughout the day. Advertisement The programming also includes classes with field trips. One of Lyons's favorite memories is of a rowing class she and her two friends took together, which ended with an excursion: rowing on the Charles River. 'It's something I always wanted to do,' Lyons said. Corinne Balsamo joins the gentle pilates class. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Shea cites Age Strong's programming as one the city's efforts to decrease social isolation in its elderly population. The 'It's healing in mind, body, and spirit,' Giacalone said. She described how the regular group at the Elks Lodge looks out for one another, from celebrating birthdays to checking on friends who have missed a few classes to helping those who can no longer attend. 'The place is beyond friendship,' Lyons chimed in. 'It's family.' Isabella Bernstein can be reached at
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
Video Games Are Quietly Becoming The Next Fintech Frontier
Over the Shoulder Angle of a Young Female Gamer Winning in a Video Game on Personal Computer in a ... More Neon Lit Living Room at Home. Cozy Evening at Home in Loft Apartment. Video games are no longer just digital entertainment; they're financial ecosystems. From 'Roblox' to 'Fortnite,' modern platforms are handling billions in real-world payments through wallets, currencies, and in-game economies. Players store value, exchange assets, and earn income in these environments, sometimes without realizing they're engaging in financial transactions. According to the company's Q42024 earnings report, Roblox developers and creators earned $922.8 million—up from $740.8 million in 2023. Users spend immense sums on digital items, using Roblox's proprietary currency, Robux. Players convert dollars into tokens, purchase virtual goods, tip creators, and sometimes even receive payouts. These are not isolated features; they're increasingly central to how games operate and generate revenue. This shift hasn't gone unnoticed by regulators, and it should be on fintech leaders' radars as well. What's emerging is a parallel financial system with few of the obligations imposed on banks or payment processors. In April 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a report examining the growing prevalence of banking functions in video games. It noted that consumers are spending billions on virtual goods by transferring funds into gaming platforms—often with limited refund options, little fee transparency, and no standard user protections. Shortly after, the CFPB issued a proposed interpretive rule clarifying that many digital wallets and stored-value accounts could fall under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. That includes platforms where consumers deposit funds, access them through in-game wallets, and use them for purchases within a defined ecosystem. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The rule, which was later rescinded in 2025, would have extended regulatory safeguards like fee disclosures, fraud liability limits, and error resolution to platforms whose stored-value systems function like prepaid products. Although the rollback provided temporary relief for developers, it signaled how regulators are beginning to view these platforms: not as games, but as gateways to financial risk. Game Design Choices Carry Real Compliance Risk Regulators have also turned their attention to the ways games nudge users into spending. In December 2022, Fortnite developer Epic Games paid a landmark $520 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it used dark patterns and billing practices that led to unauthorized charges. More recently, in January 2025, the FTC announced a $20 million settlement with 'Genshin Impact' developer Cognosphere. Regulators accused the company of using manipulative loot box systems that hid the true cost of purchases and misled players, particularly minors, about their odds of success. The settlement requires age-gating, odds disclosure, and clearer purchase mechanics. The enforcement trend is clear: if a platform uses behavioral tactics to encourage spending, especially among children, regulators will treat it as a consumer protection issue, not a UX decision. Why Fintech Leaders Should Care California is emerging as a leader in applying state laws to video game monetization. In 2024, the attorney general and Los Angeles city attorney reached a $500,000 settlement with Tilting Point Media over alleged violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) involving children's data use in the game SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off. Meanwhile, New York has also taken steps to address the risks associated with in-game monetization. In 2024, the state's Division of Consumer Protection issued a consumer alert warning about the financial and data privacy risks tied to in-game purchases, particularly loot boxes. What's happening in video games today is reshaping how the next generation experiences money. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are growing up with seamless, social, in-game financial interactions. These aren't just expectations. They're conditioning. Fintech companies and the investors backing them should take note. Gaming platforms are winning trust by offering intuitive, creative, and frictionless payment experiences. But they're also surfacing regulatory and ethical issues fintech has wrestled with for years: consent, transparency, refund rights, and youth protection. Those who learn from the best parts of gaming UX and avoid the pitfalls will be well-positioned to serve the next generation of users. Because the future of money isn't being invented in a bank lobby. It's being beta tested in a game lobby.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business Wire
Roblox Launches New Learning Hub to Engage Students Through Play
SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roblox Corporation (NYSE: RBLX), an immersive gaming and creation platform, today announced that its new Learning Hub is now available to all users looking to access dozens of engaging educational experiences from leading educational providers and Roblox creators. Whether it's sharpening online safety skills in Google Be Internet Awesome World, boosting vocabulary through Words of Power by Mrs. Wordsmith, or competing in the Math Tower Race by TeamRy—learners can naturally pick up valuable lessons through play and share them with their friends. Users will also soon be able to put their geography skills to the test in a new British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Bitesize experience called Planet Planners. The experience, created by the BBC's renowned study support service and built by Playerthree, is designed for students aged 11 to 14. It will offer a new way for users to learn about some of the world's most pressing challenges—from preparing for natural disasters to managing large cities—and be mapped to national curricula in the UK and K-12 standards in the U.S. Roblox's Learning Hub points users to interactive and collaborative learning experiences across a broad range of topics, from life skills and brain games to more traditional school subjects like arts, computer science, and math. For educators and parents, this curated collection of experiences and games offers a way to focus avid Roblox fans on learning while playing during this summer break and beyond. 'Our new Learning Hub becomes available just as many students around the world are out of school for summer break,' said Rebecca Kantar, Head of Education at Roblox. 'Whether students are looking to try building a game for the first time or to practice skills they'll need again for the fall, our Learning Hub serves as a convenient front door. We aim to give more and more Roblox users globally access to subject- and grade-level-appropriate content that will ignite their genuine interest in learning.' Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street and creator of the STEM-focused Sesame Street Mecha Builders on Roblox (featured in the Learning Hub), has already garnered 70 million visits to its engaging educational game. Sesame Workshop's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Aaron Bisman, said, 'Roblox has built a vibrant global community where creativity, learning, and collaboration thrive. We're excited to be part of the new Learning Hub, where friends and fans can explore STEM and other valuable skills through immersive experiences like ours.' Oonagh Jaquest, Executive Producer, BBC Bitesize, BBC Education, said, 'BBC Bitesize is committed to offering world-class educational experiences to all learners, and game-based learning is a great way for students to engage with complex subject content while developing skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. The Roblox team has worked collaboratively with us to develop a really rich experience, which lets young people explore diverse locations around the world, see their decisions play out tangibly in the environment, and even play as class groups.' Here are nine examples of educational games and experiences from the Learning Hub to try at home or in summer camps as a start: Domain Rangers: Understand vibrant marine ecosystems and their effects on the ocean's future through immersive adventures with friends. Ecos: La Brea: Experience what the planet looked like long ago and how animals survived during the time of the dinosaurs. Google Be Internet Awesome World: Learn online safety lessons through action-packed games, from spotting phishing scams to creating strong passwords and being mindful when sharing information online. Lua Learning: Master the popular coding language Lua on Roblox by using an in-game script editor, tailored curriculum, and safe sandboxed code execution in a hands-on environment. Math Tower Race: Boost and show off your math skills when speed is of the essence to win the game's races. Mission: Mars: Explore the rough and rugged Red Planet on a mission assigned in the Museum of Science's educational experience. Sesame Street Mecha Builders: Work through a series of challenging and fun STEM-focused puzzles using different Mecha tools to help solve problems. Studio Lite: Learn game development with easy tutorials to help build, script, and publish amazing games on Roblox. Words of Power: Improve communication and boost vocabulary skills by using words in a fast-paced action role-playing game while strengthening emotional literacy. Visit the Learning Hub via the More tab and look for the Learn icon in the Roblox desktop and mobile apps. For press kit click here. About Roblox Roblox is an immersive gaming and creation platform that offers people millions of ways to be together, inviting its community to explore, create, and share endless unique experiences. Roblox's vision is to reimagine the way people come together—in a world that's safe, civil, and optimistic. To achieve this vision, Roblox is building an innovative company that, together with the community, has the ability to strengthen the social fabric and support economic growth for people around the world. For more about Roblox, please visit ROBLOX and the Roblox logo are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Roblox Corporation in the United States and other countries. © 2025 Roblox Corporation. All rights reserved.
