Roblox is one of the most popular gaming platforms for children, with millions of young users building, creating, and socializing every day. For many families, it feels like a harmless digital playground. But beneath the surface, serious concerns have emerged. The very platform parents believe their children are using for fun, socialization and learning, may also expose them to grooming, exploitation, and online abuse.
The trauma-informed lawyers at the Joel Bieber Firm are working with families navigating the aftermath of these deeply traumatic experiences. And we’ve seen a troubling trend: when harm occurs, public comments can turn to blaming parents. These failures are not because of inattentive parenting. The truth is, Roblox is aware this is happening on their platform and are not implementing safety features to stop predators. If you’re a parent carrying guilt—we want you to know this is not your fault.
The Harmful Myth of “Where Were the Parents?”
Whenever a case involving online abuse comes to light, the question appears: “Where were the parents?” This line of thinking not only misplaces blame but also silences families who might otherwise seek help. Predators are easily taking advantage of children even in spite of parents who have taken every safety precaution available to them. This is because the Roblox platform gives them easy unfettered access to children as young as six years old and its design makes it easy for predators to groom, bribe and even manipulate its young users. But even the most vigilant parent can’t see everything.
Predators rely on this misconception. By shifting blame to caregivers, attention is taken off the real issues: predatory behavior and platform-level safety failures.
Why Parental Controls Don’t Catch Everything
It’s natural to assume that parental controls are enough to protect children online. But real-world cases continue to show otherwise. In 2022, an 8-year-old girl in North Carolina was targeted by a predator on Roblox who asked her to send “hot videos”—despite her mother having parental controls enabled on all devices.
This case is just one example of how predators can exploit even the most popular platforms, finding ways to bypass safety tools and reach children directly. Grooming often happens through context, trust-building, and private interactions that moderation systems don’t always catch.
Predators are still able to get access to children on Roblox even when parents diligently use parental controls. And oftentimes predators will threaten children into silence, leaving parents unaware of the dark truth that their child may be a victim of online exploitation. It’s a reminder that even the most proactive efforts can’t always outpace the risks posed by underregulated platforms and manipulative predators. Responsibility must rest with those in the position to create safer environments for children.
Where Roblox’s Safety Systems Fall Short
Some of the most alarming concerns involve games that incorporate sexualized themes. According to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, examples of such games that were accessible on the platform include:
- Escape to Epstein Island
- Freaky Diddy Simulator
- Child Labor Tycoon
These types of experiences often involve avatars engaging in inappropriate or overtly sexual behavior, which becomes part of the grooming process and desensitizes young children to inappropriate sexual acts
The Role of Currency in Predatory Behavior
A 2023 report highlighted by advocacy expert Haley Pendergast revealed that predators will use Roblox’s in-game currency—Robux—as a tool for exploitation. Children were allegedly offered Robux in exchange for:
- Participating in sexual role-playing games
- Lying down on top of another avatar
- Pretending to be “adopted” in sexually suggestive scenarios
These transactions can occur under the guise of gameplay, making them difficult for outsiders—including parents—to detect. Predators will also offer Robux to children in exchange for sexually inappropriate photos.
Legal and Investigative Findings
In fact, a 2023 investigative report by NBC News found that some predators were able to groom children over a period of months despite existing safety features, often using innocent-seeming games or avatars as cover. Roblox has been named in multiple lawsuits alleging that the platform failed to act or adequately protect young users from known risks.
Further scrutiny emerged in October 2024 when Hindenburg Research, a short-selling investment firm, published a report alleging that Roblox inflated key user metrics and failed to adequately address safety concerns on its platform. The report highlighted instances where the company allegedly prioritized growth over user safety, raising further questions about its commitment to protecting young users
What Predators Count On
Abusers operating in online spaces are manipulative and patient. They groom slowly, build trust, and create shame-based secrecy. They know how to exploit children’s curiosity and the gaps in platform oversight. At The Joel Bieber Firm, our trauma-informed legal team wants to be clear: the fault lies with the predator, not with the parents.
What Parents Can Do—Without Shame
There is no perfect digital safety strategy. Still, parents can take steps to reduce risks while keeping communication open:
- Talk regularly with your child about who they’re interacting with online
- Avoid over-reliance on platform safety tools
- Encourage your child to speak up if anything makes them uncomfortable
- Teach basic digital boundaries: never share personal info or move to external apps without permission
- Make sure children know if they were taken advantage of by a predator that it was not their fault and they will not be punished for revealing the truth.
These conversations matter—but they don’t make you immune to harm. That’s why accountability must rest with tech companies. It takes a village to protect societies most vulnerable and Roblox is not doing its part.
You Are Not Alone—And You Deserve Support
Many parents we speak with at The Joel Bieber Firm are struggling with guilt. They ask: “How did I miss this?” But the truth is, predators operate in silence, and platforms like Roblox are knowingly turning a blind eye to it..
If your family has been impacted, know that legal action isn’t about blame. It’s about seeking accountability, protecting your child, and making online spaces safer for others. We’re here to help you do just that.
Shifting the Blame Where It Belongs
Predators and unsafe platforms are to blame—not you. You are a parent doing your best in a digital world that changes faster than any one person can keep up with. If something happened to your child on Roblox or another online platform, we want to listen. We want to help.
You are not alone. And you are not at fault.
Need someone to talk to? Contact the trauma-informed lawyers at The Joel Bieber Firm for a confidential, no-pressure consultation. Our team is here to support you and help your family take the next step toward healing and justice.
