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Popular online game platform Roblox is currently in hot water after it was sued by families whose children have faced inappropriate content and exploitation while using their platform.
The lawsuit, filed in San Diego Superior Court, accuses Roblox Corporation of intentional and negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and violations of various laws in California.
The platform’s deceptive advertising led parents to believe it was safe for kids, despite exposing them to harmful content. By misleading parents about its safety features and the real cost of in-app purchases, Roblox allegedly disregarded children’s exposure to explicit and predatory content.
“There’s a misperception that Roblox is safe – the brand has a bit of a halo around it due to the company falsely advertising itself that way to parents,” said Alexandra Walsh, Founder of Walsh Law.
Roblox, a platform predominantly used by minors, has seen tremendous growth. Around 60% of its users are under 16, with significant usage among children as young as 9 years old. Despite its claim of being “family-friendly,” children have encountered explicit content, abusive messages, and predatory behaviour, leading to distressing experiences for families.
Children using Roblox have encountered nude avatars, avatars engaging in intercourse, and use of sex toys, as well as virtual strip clubs. For instance, one parent discovered abusive messages sent to their 7-year-old son.
Another parent found links to external pornographic websites sent to their 9-year-old daughter’s account. A third parent learned that their 12-year-old daughter was groomed by an imposter posing as a peer on the platform.
The lawsuits highlight Roblox’s failure to keep children safe and the platform’s misrepresentation of its safety measures. The parents behind the lawsuit said they aimed to hold Roblox accountable for these issues and bring justice for affected families.
“Roblox is an astoundingly popular platform, on par with Barbie and Lego as a one-word brand name that sparks trust among parents and educators. But it’s a misplaced trust and is completely undeserved,” said Anne Andrews, Founding Partner of Andrews & Thornton.
“Parents need to know about the dangers that children encounter in Roblox’s metaverse, and children need to know that when they are spending Robux, they are actually spending their parents’ real money. Roblox claims it goes ‘above and beyond’ to keep kids safe, but the systems that monitor lewd behaviour often fail, and the platform makes it nearly impossible for parents to monitor, track and quantify where and how children spend their money.”
