Roblox, one of the world’s most-played platforms for kids and teens, is facing renewed criticism over serious child safety risks. A comprehensive new investigation from Revealing Reality, covered by The Guardian, highlights disturbing findings that challenge the platform’s kid-friendly image.
🚨 What Did Researchers Uncover?
Researchers created test accounts posing as users aged 5, 9, 10, and 13, plus adult controls. Despite Roblox’s reputation for moderation and child-safe experiences, they found:
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🧒 Children as young as 5 could chat with adults
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🚪 Access to explicit environments, including avatars simulating sexual acts
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🎧 Voice chat exposed kids to inappropriate language and sounds
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📱 A 5-year-old avatar was solicited for Snapchat in coded language
All of this occurred despite Roblox’s AI moderation tools and age-filtering systems.
⚠️ Real Impact: What Parents Reported
The study also included first-hand accounts from parents:
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A 10-year-old boy was groomed by an adult on the platform
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A 9-year-old girl experienced panic attacks after witnessing graphic content
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Parents described the platform as “deeply misleading” in how safe it appears
Researchers concluded that Roblox’s current moderation systems are not enough to protect children, particularly in UGC (user-generated content) spaces.
🧒 Roblox’s Response to the Report
Roblox has acknowledged the concerns, stating:
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Bad actors exist across all online platforms, not just Roblox
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40+ safety upgrades were added in 2024
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The company welcomes government and industry collaboration on child protection
Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer, said:
“Trust and safety are at the core of everything we do. We’re committed to ongoing improvements.”
🔍 Parent Takeaways: What You Need to Know
If your child plays Roblox, here are critical reminders:
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❌ Parental controls aren’t foolproof — kids can still chat with strangers
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🧠 Don’t rely on appearance — Roblox may look kid-safe, but isn’t by default
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⚙️ Age verification systems are weak, especially for under-13 accounts
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🧍 Monitor who your child talks to and what games they’re accessing
✅ TL;DR – Roblox Child Safety Risks Summary
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New research reveals major safety concerns for young users
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Explicit content and grooming risk reported even in child-marketed spaces
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Parental controls and AI moderation still fall short
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Roblox says safety is a priority, but external experts call for stronger oversight
