The state of Florida is coming after your kid's favorite game. Here's what to know about Roblox.

Boston Globe

17-04-2025

Like many other such games, Roblox can be played for free. But many players purchase 'Robux,' a digital currency they can use to purchase extra in-game features, like customized tools, weapons or costumes. Last year, Roblox posted a $940 million loss on revenues of $3.6 billion.
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But Roblox has long been targeted by child safety advocates, who say that the service makes it too easy for child molesters to get access to young gamers and groom them for sexual exploitation.
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'There are concerning reports that this gaming platform, which is popular among children, is exposing them to harmful content and bad actors, said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
On Wednesday, he issued a subpoena to the San Mateo, Calif. company demanding that it provide detailed information on its child safety practices.
Roblox hasn't officially responded to the subpoena. But the company's website describes a variety of methods it uses to prevent adults from interacting with children age 13 or younger.
For instance, it's beginning to implement a requirement that users older than 13 must present a government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, to get access to certain features, such as the ability to speak directly to other players.
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Still, there's reason to believe that child predators keep finding ways to bypass Roblox security.
Roblox says that it monitors all text messages sent to and from children, to filter out inappropriate speech. But according to the lawsuit, whisper messages are not monitored.
The suit says that a predator used whisper messages to contact a 13-year-old boy in New Jersey. The predator persuaded the boy to send him sexually explicit pictures in exchange for digital currency that the boy could use to buy special features inside the game. The alleged predator, now in custody, is believed to have exploited more than two dozen other children.
There have been many other reports of inappropriate activity on Roblox, including the creation of games that feature rape and mass murders. But the company has insisted that it moves quickly to remove all such material.
It also urges parents to make use of features that can set limits on a child's online activities, such as limiting the kinds of games children can play, and limiting the amount of information a child can share with other players.
Still, the Florida subpoena is a warning that Roblox needs to rethink its child protection strategy, or else.
Hiawatha Bray can be reached at