Understanding the Dangers of Roblox and Other Online Platforms

In October 2024, a chilling report by Hindenburg Research* ignited the conversation about the online safety of children using the popular game platform Roblox. Roblox is a gaming platform that allows you to play user-created games or create games through Roblox Studio. The report labels Roblox as an “X-Rated Pedophile Hellscape,” and highlights the serious risks our children face online. It is essential for us, as parents, to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure our children's safety online. 

OUR kids, who have more difficulties understanding social dynamics and nuances in real life situations are much more vulnerable online.

I am not saying to never allow your child to be on Roblox. However, if your child is on Roblox or knows anyone who plays Roblox (likely 100% of kids), please keep these in mind and have the important conversations with them. 

*Hindenburg Research is an investment firm that places financial bets — “short sales” — that stocks will decline in connection with in-depth investigations that Hindenburg publishes about those same companies.

I'd like to share points brought up by an article [A New Report Alleges that Roblox Remains an “X-Rated Pedophile Hellscape,” And What This Says About the Need for Regulation] by Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat on NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights Website. Click link for full article. 

Summary of Resenblat's Article 

1. Inadequate Content Moderation: Roblox's reliance on AI for content moderation has been ineffective in blocking harmful content, including explicit material and predatory behavior. 
2. Failure to Enforce Age Verification: Lacks effective age verification systems, allowing younger users to be exposed to adult-oriented content. 
3. Grooming and Predatory Behavior: The report also uncovered instances of online grooming. Adults were able to direct message children, forming relationships that led to sexual exploitation. In some cases, children were exposed to sexually explicit roleplay scenarios and manipulated into sharing personal information​
4. Violence and Hate Speech: Beyond sexual exploitation, Roblox games have been reported to contain violent content and promote hate speech. 
5. Inadequate Moderation: Roblox has been accused of not doing enough to combat these issues. The platform has reportedly reduced investment in human moderators and instead relied on ineffective AI systems, leaving dangerous content unchecked. 

The report found that a significant portion of Roblox’s user base—21%—are children under the age of 9, and many of these children are being exposed to harmful content​. 

For Online Safety

1. Play WITH your kids: Be knowledgeable of the games, terminologies, and trends. Monitor their play activity IN the game, not just from afar.
2. Use Parental Controls: Use privacy settings like chat filters and restrict interactions with strangers. Limit who can message or befriend your child. Activate before allowing your child to engage in any online activity.​
3. Monitor Playtime: Regularly check what games your child is playing on Roblox. Review gameplay information in your child’s account settings​. Have your child play in a common area of your home.
4. Educate Your Child: Teach them about the importance of not sharing personal information and recognizing inappropriate behavior from strangers. 
5. Use a Separate Device to Communicate: Use a separate device and allow close friends to communicate via facetime, zoom, etc to avoid communicating within the game. 
6. Do Not Rely on Roblox Safety Features: Don't assume the features are enough to keep your child safe

Oh no, there's more...

According to National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) - link, among numerous findings, Hindenburg Research found that:

1. “After we found a username, we listed our age as ‘under 13’ to see if children are being exposed to adult content. By merely plugging ‘adult’ into the Roblox search bar, we found a group called ‘Adult Studios’ with 3,334 members openly trading child pornography and soliciting sexual acts from minors."
2. "We tracked some of the members of ‘Adult Studios’ and easily found 38 Roblox groups – one with 103,000 members – openly soliciting sexual favors and trading child pornography."
3. “The chatrooms trading in child pornography had no age restrictions. Roblox reports that 21% of its users are under the age of 9, a number that is likely underestimated given that Roblox has no age verification aside from users seeking 17+ experiences."
4. “Registered as a child, we were also able to access games like ‘Escape to Epstein Island’ and ‘Diddy Party’. We found over 600 ‘Diddy’ games, including ‘Survive Diddy’ and ‘Run From Diddy Simulator’."
5. “Since September 2nd, 2024, third-party monitor ‘Moderation For Dummies’ has reported ~12,400 erotic roleplay accounts on Roblox. These include everything from ‘rape/forceful sex fetishes’ to underage users ‘willing to do anything for Robux’."
6. “Users seeking sexual experiences on Roblox are so pervasive that there are thousands of Roblox sex videos on porn sites, inviting users of unknown ages to make explicit content on the platform."
7. “We tested out Roblox’s experiences to see what else kids were being exposed to. We quickly encountered images of male genitalia and hate speech in Roblox’s ‘school simulator’ game, which had registered 28.9 million visits with no age restrictions.”

Founded in 1962, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national non-partisan organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation such as child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and the public health harms of pornography. https://endsexualexploitation.org/

Remember, this is not just about Roblox. Let's protect and educate our children. Let's be the eyes and ears for our community supporting children and alert parents if you suspect a child is in unsafe situations. 

Noriko Abenojar, MSW, PPS
Parenting REdefined

Instagram: @NorikoAbenojar

Facebook: Parenting REdefined by Noriko Abenojar MSW PPS