Case Study: Roblox and Online Child Safety
Background
What is Roblox?
Roblox is one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms, especially among children. It allows users to create their own
games and virtual worlds, play games made by others, and interact with millions of players worldwide. As of 2025, Roblox has over
85 million daily active users, with approximately 40-53% of its users being children under the age of 13 [85][88][^91].
The platform is marketed as a safe, creative space for children where they can build, play, and socialize. However, behind this family-
friendly image lies a growing crisis: Roblox has become what many experts, parents, and law enforcement officials now call a "digital
hunting ground" for online predators [86][92].
The Problem: How Predators Use Roblox
Easy Access to Children
One of the biggest problems with Roblox is how easy it is for adults to contact children on the platform. Here's how predators typically
operate:
1. No Age Verification
Anyone can create an account in less than one minute
Users don't need to provide a real name, email address, or any form of identification
There's no way to verify if someone is actually a child or an adult pretending to be a child
This makes it impossible to know who children are really talking to online [86][91][^92]
2. Direct Messaging and Chat Features
Roblox has in-game chat systems where players can talk to each other
Adults can send friend requests to children
Once accepted as "friends," users can send private messages
Predators use these features to build trust with children over time [84][85][^86]
3. Moving to Other Platforms
After gaining a child's trust on Roblox, predators often move the conversation to other apps like Discord, Snapchat, or Facebook
These other platforms have less moderation and allow voice calls, video chats, and photo sharing
This makes it easier for predators to groom and exploit children [86][87][^89]
Grooming Tactics
Grooming is when an adult slowly builds a relationship with a child to eventually abuse or exploit them. Predators on Roblox use
several tactics:
Using Game Features
Avatar Customization: Predators create avatars that look like children to make kids trust them [^84]
Role-Play Games: Games where players pretend to have "families" or "relationships" blur boundaries and normalize
inappropriate behavior [84][90]
Virtual Currency (Robux): Predators give children Robux as gifts to build trust or use it to bribe children into doing things they're
uncomfortable with [86][89]
Building Trust
Pretending to be the same age as the child
Being friendly and complimentary
Showing interest in the child's life
Offering gifts or special treatment in games [84][92][^93]
Escalating to Abuse
Sending sexually explicit messages, images, or videos
Asking children to send explicit photos of themselves
Using threats or blackmail (sextortion) to force children to continue
In extreme cases, arranging to meet children in person [86][89][92][93]
Real Cases
Case 1: Iowa Kidnapping (2025)
A 13-year-old girl from West Des Moines, Iowa, was groomed by an adult predator through Roblox. On May 24, 2025, she was
kidnapped from her grandmother's home and trafficked across multiple states, where she was repeatedly sexually abused and raped.
The predator had gained her trust through months of online conversations on Roblox before moving the relationship to real life [^92].
Case 2: Michigan Sexual Assault (2025)
An 11-year-old girl from Michigan was playing a Roblox game called "United States Military 1960s" when she was contacted by
someone claiming to be a 14-year-old boy. After grooming her online, the predator convinced her to sneak out of her home and meet
him at a motel. When she arrived, she discovered he was actually an adult man. He sexually assaulted her, recorded the abuse, and
used the footage to blackmail her into meeting him again for a second, more violent assault [^86].
Case 3: Texas Home Invasion (2025)
A 13-year-old girl from Galveston, Texas, was groomed on Roblox starting at age 13. Even though her mother had parental controls
enabled and certain chat features disabled, the predator found ways to communicate with her. The man eventually snuck into her
family's home and sexually assaulted her while recording the abuse. He used this recording to blackmail her into continued
compliance [^89].
Case 4: Charleston County Exploitation (2025)
An 11-year-old girl from Charleston County, South Carolina, was targeted by a predator who used both Roblox and Discord to groom
and sexually exploit her. Her guardian had allowed her to use these apps because the companies marketed them as safe for
children. The lawsuit states that the platforms "created a digital and real-life nightmare" for the child [^87].
Case 5: UK Grooming Case (2019)
A British mother discovered that her young son, who was playing what she thought was an "innocent game," had been groomed into
sending sexually explicit images of himself. Even though she had turned on parental controls so he couldn't send messages,
predators contacted him through third-party apps that overlaid the game, making it appear they were part of Roblox [^93].
The Scale of the Problem
The problem is much bigger than just a few isolated cases:
Since 2018: Police in the United States have arrested at least 24 people accused of abducting or abusing children they met or
groomed on Roblox. Many of these suspects were registered sex offenders or known child abusers [94][99]
In 2023: Roblox reported 13,316 instances of child exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, up from
2,973 the previous year [^94]
In 2023: Roblox responded to more than 1,300 requests for information from law enforcement, including investigations into
alleged predators, a jump of almost one-third from 2022 [^94]
As of 2025: Law firms are now investigating hundreds of similar cases across the United States [86][89]
These numbers only represent reported cases—experts believe many more children have been victimized but haven't reported it
[^94].
Other Dangers on Roblox
Beyond predators, children on Roblox face several other risks:
1. Inappropriate Sexual Content
Users have created games with explicit sexual content, sometimes called "condo games"
A BBC investigation found naked avatars and avatars engaging in sexual acts on the platform
Children report seeing inappropriate behavior and sexual conversations flooding game chats [90][93]
2. Cyberbullying
Children can be bullied by other players through name-calling, harassment, and embarrassment
The anonymity of the platform makes it easier for bullies to target victims without consequences [^99]
3. Scams
Scammers trick children into trading valuable items or giving away money
Fake offers for "free Robux" lead children to click malicious links that can steal personal information or download malware [88][99]
4. Extremist Content
Terrorist organizations have been reported using Roblox to recruit members and spread propaganda
There have been reports of attacks on players who identify as Israeli, with attackers using avatars displaying Saudi and
Palestinian flags [^90]
Why Isn't Roblox Doing More?
Many people ask: if Roblox knows about these problems, why hasn't the company fixed them?
What Roblox Says
Roblox claims it is committed to child safety and points to several measures:
24-hour content moderators to monitor the platform
Chat filters to block inappropriate language
Systems to report abuse
Policies to ban predators and remove inappropriate content
Recently added parental controls [85][93][^94]
The company's CEO, Dave Baszucki, has said: "We watch for bullying, we watch for harassment, we filter all of those kinds of things,
and I would say behind the scenes, the analysis goes on all the way to, if necessary, reaching out to law enforcement" [^88].
However, he also told the BBC that if parents are worried about safety, they should "trust their instincts" and "don't let their kids be on
Roblox" [^88].
What Critics Say
Parents, lawyers, safety experts, and law enforcement officials argue that Roblox is not doing enough:
1. Prioritizing Profit Over Safety
Multiple lawsuits accuse Roblox of prioritizing growth and profit over child safety
The company benefits financially from predators because it takes a cut from all Robux transactions, including when predators
use Robux to groom children [86][87][^89]
2. Inadequate Safety Measures
No meaningful age verification system
Easy for banned users to create new accounts
Filters can be easily bypassed
Predators can use third-party apps to communicate with children, making Roblox's chat filters useless [86][91][^93]
3. Misleading Marketing
Roblox markets itself as a safe platform for children, leading parents to trust it
Parents feel betrayed when they discover the reality of the dangers [86][89][^91]
4. Data Privacy Violations
A 2025 class-action lawsuit alleges Roblox violates children's privacy laws by collecting data without consent
The lawsuit claims Roblox records children's conversations, creates "audio fingerprints" to track users, and logs IP addresses,
mouse movements, and keystrokes
This data is allegedly shared with third parties for advertising purposes [^91]
Legal Action and Government Response
Lawsuits
As of 2025, Roblox faces dozens of lawsuits from families across the United States:
August 2025: Louisiana Attorney General sued Roblox, calling it "the perfect place for pedophiles" and accusing it of
intentionally creating a platform with no age verification [^91]
Multiple States: Families in California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, and other states
have filed lawsuits alleging Roblox enabled the sexual exploitation of their children [86][87][89][92]
Law Firm Statistics: One law firm (SGGH and Milberg) reports representing over 400 victims of sexual exploitation on Roblox
and Discord [^92]
Government Actions
United States
Multiple state attorneys general are investigating Roblox
Law enforcement agencies are pursuing criminal cases against predators who used the platform [86][91]
International
Turkey (2024): Banned Roblox over sexual content in games [^90]
Algeria (September 2025): Blocked access to Roblox due to child safety concerns [^91]
Kuwait and Qatar: Have also banned Roblox over child safety issues [^91]
Australia (October 2025): The eSafety Commissioner challenged Roblox about its risks and secured commitments for new
safety measures, though Roblox may not be included in Australia's upcoming social media ban [97][98]
Key Issues Highlighted by the Roblox Case
1. Platform Responsibility
Should gaming and social media companies be held legally responsible when predators use their platforms to harm children? The
Roblox cases demonstrate that companies may prioritize growth and profits over implementing basic safety features that could
protect users [86][89][^91].
2. Age Verification
Without proper age verification, it's impossible to know if users are who they claim to be. Children may pretend to be older to access
features, while adults pretend to be children to gain access to victims [91][94].
3. Inadequacy of Parental Controls
Many parents in these cases had enabled parental controls, yet their children were still victimized. This shows that parental controls
alone are not sufficient protection when platforms have fundamental design flaws [89][93].
4. Cross-Platform Exploitation
Predators don't limit themselves to one app—they use multiple platforms (Roblox, Discord, Snapchat, Facebook) to groom children.
This makes it difficult for any single platform to fully protect users and highlights the need for coordinated industry-wide solutions [86]
[87][^89].
5. International Jurisdiction
Roblox operates globally, with users and predators in different countries. This creates challenges for law enforcement and raises
questions about which country's laws apply and how to coordinate international investigations [90][91].
6. Digital Literacy and Education
Many children don't understand the risks of online interaction or how to identify grooming behavior. Parents often don't know enough
about these platforms to properly supervise their children's use [93][99].
7. Corporate Accountability
When companies market products to children, do they have a special legal obligation to ensure those products are safe? The Roblox
lawsuits argue that the company violated consumer protection laws by marketing a dangerous product as safe for children [86][91].
What Needs to Change?
For Companies Like Roblox
Implement Stronger Safety Measures
Mandatory age verification for all users
Prevent adults from directly contacting minors without parental approval
Better AI and human moderation to detect grooming behavior
Make accounts for children under 16 private by default
Limit or remove features that predators exploit (like direct messaging, Robux transfers between strangers) [85][91][^97]
Transparency and Accountability
Be honest with parents about the real risks on the platform
Regular safety audits by independent experts
Publicly report safety incidents and what's being done to address them [88][91]
For Governments and Regulators
Create and Enforce Stronger Laws
Laws requiring companies to implement age verification
Stricter penalties for companies that fail to protect children
Mandatory safety features for platforms used by children
Regular safety inspections of platforms [91][97]
International Cooperation
Agreements between countries to share information about predators
Coordinated investigations across borders
Harmonized safety standards globally [90][91]
For Parents and Caregivers
Stay Informed and Engaged
Learn about the platforms your children use
Regularly check in with children about their online experiences
Look for changes in behavior that might indicate grooming
Keep devices in common areas of the home
Use privacy settings and parental controls, but don't rely on them alone [85][91][^99]
Have Conversations
Teach children about online safety and the risks of talking to strangers
Make sure children know they can come to you if something uncomfortable happens online
Explain what grooming looks like and why predators pretend to be children [^99]
For Schools and Communities
Education Programs
Teach digital literacy and online safety in schools
Help children recognize grooming behavior
Provide resources for parents to learn about online platforms
Create support systems for victims of online exploitation [^99]
Conclusion
The Roblox case demonstrates how popular online platforms designed for children can become dangerous when companies fail to
implement adequate safety measures. While Roblox is just one example, similar problems exist on many gaming and social media
platforms that children use.
The thousands of children who have been groomed, exploited, kidnapped, and abused through Roblox show that this is not a minor
issue—it's a global crisis requiring urgent action from companies, governments, parents, and international organizations like the
United Nations.
As delegates discuss addressing the global rise in cyberbullying and online harassment, the Roblox case serves as a stark reminder
that online platforms can facilitate not just harassment, but serious criminal exploitation of children. Effective solutions must address:
Platform design and safety features
Corporate accountability and transparency
Age verification and user authentication
Cross-platform coordination
International legal frameworks
Parent and child education
Support for victims
Only through comprehensive, coordinated international action can we create safer online spaces for the millions of children who use
these platforms every day.
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