Roblox's Safety Measures Under Scrutiny Amid Rising Lawsuits and Exploitation Cases
Roblox, launched in 2006, allows kids to create games using simple tools. It uses Robux for in-game purchases like avatar outfits. During Covid-19 lockdowns, it provided semi-socialization for iPad users. The platform's safety has been criticized due to open chat and default settings permitting anyone to chat with anyone. Roblox has faced allegations of being a haven for pedophiles, fascists, and nihilist groups like No Lives Matter and 764. Law firms are filing lawsuits claiming Roblox facilitated sexual exploitation and grooming of minors. In 2019, Roblox reported 675 cases of suspected child sexual exploitation to NCMEC, which quadrupled to over 2,200 in 2020 and exceeded 24,000 by 2024. Roblox's Trusted Connections feature aims to restrict chats but critics argue it fails to prevent exploitation. Discord and other platforms also face similar issues with age verification.