Roblox banned in Qatar over child safety fears as predator reports surface; users now call for Donald Trump to ban the game in the US

Time of India

a day ago

Qatar blocked access to the massively popular online platform Roblox on August 13, 2025, sparking shock among players. The move reportedly followed strong social media campaigns in Qatar, raising concerns over child safety, harmful interactions, and exposure to inappropriate content. These campaigns were largely led by YouTuber and streamer Schlep, who was recently banned from Roblox after exposing six alleged sexual predators on the platform.
Now, the controversy is spilling over to the United States, where some internet users, mostly concerned parents, are tagging President Donald Trump on social media, urging him to ban Roblox nationwide. The situation has reignited global debates over online game moderation, safety for minors, and whether government intervention is the right approach to protect young gamers. Here's a breakdown of what's happening.
Why did Qatar ban Roblox?
Roblox allows millions of players to create, share, and play user-generated games. While this creativity is its main appeal, it has also drawn criticism over unsafe interactions, predatory behaviour, and inappropriate content slipping past moderation. In Qatar, these concerns escalated after viral posts claimed children were exposed to harmful situations in-game. The resulting public pressure reportedly pushed authorities to block Roblox entirely.
Qatar has reportedly blocked access to Roblox pic.twitter.com/udfWf6vMVK
Social Media calls for a US ban on Roblox
Following the Qatar ban, some American users began tagging Donald Trump in posts, urging him to ban Roblox in the United States. Supporters of this idea point to similar concerns, especially around child exploitation and poor content moderation; however, many have argued it would be an overreach that punishes millions of safe players.
Will trump ban in US Roblox? 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/wBwg4h0PES
@realDonaldTrump I have a request...Can you ban Roblox in the United States of America?In your victory speech, you said America will be safe again, and taking down Roblox, a huge company with a reputation for putting everyone in danger, will certainly fill that.#Roblox
I'm not a fan of Trump but I love Roblox BUT YES PLEASE BAN IT ITS GONE TOO FAR
I'm pretty sure that Roblox will be ban in the united states of America for predator protection https://t.co/NXDBX3ltoK
A pattern of global restrictions on Roblox
Qatar's action follows similar bans in Turkey, Oman, and China. In each case, safety concerns and weak moderation tools were cited.
Despite this, Roblox continues to grow worldwide, boasting millions of active players. The big question now is whether growing public pressure in the US could trigger political action similar to Qatar's.
Schlep Roblox controversy explained
Schlep, a 22-year-old YouTuber and former Roblox player, built a reputation exposing alleged child predators by posing as minors and catching offenders on camera. His efforts reportedly led to six real-world arrests and stemmed, in part, from his past trauma involving grooming on the platform. In August 2025, Roblox permanently banned him and issued a cease-and-desist letter, alleging his 'vigilante' methods breached community standards by simulating child-endangerment chats, sharing personal data, and bypassing official safety channels.
The move ignited sharp debate over how best to protect children online, with voices like KreekCraft defending Schlep's intentions and many calling for more transparent moderation policies.