Roblox is facing another lawsuit. This time from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over what he’s calling a “digital playground for predators.”
Paxton accuses Roblox Corporation of “flagrantly ignoring” the law by exposing children to “sexually explicit content, exploitation and grooming” on its platform.
Paxton isn’t mincing words as he describes the company prioritizing profits and protecting “pixel pedophiles” over child safety.
“We cannot allow platforms like Roblox to continue operating as digital playgrounds for predators where the well-being of our kids is sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.” Paxton said in his statement.
“Digital Playground for Predators”
This new lawsuit joins a growing list from Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia, and St. Louis. Roblox has faced accusations of turning a blind eye to predators targeting underage users for years.
On July 2024, Bloomberg published a report exposing Roblox’s issues of pedophiles operating within the gaming platform. They disguise themselves as kids and target minors by creating games inside Roblox to lure their victims.
Things hit a breaking point after Roblox banned Schlep, a YouTuber who helped put several predators in jail. The worst part is Schlep himself was a victim of grooming by a Roblox developer.
Roblox’s Response (and Deflection)
A spokesperson for Roblox told the BBC it was “disappointed” to receive the lawsuit. They insisted that the claims rely on “misrepresentations and sensationalism.” The company reiterated its commitment to child safety, highlighting parental controls and cooperation with law enforcement as proof.
That’s become Roblox’s go-to script and people are getting tired of hearing it. Each time a new lawsuit or exposé drops, the company issues the same denial. They never address the deeper, structural problems that allow predators to operate on their platform in the first place.
It’s as though Roblox is more concerned about protecting its brand than protecting its users.
Where’s the Accountability?
Here’s the question nobody wants to ask: Where are the shareholders?
If multiple states are accusing Roblox of enabling grooming and exploitation, why aren’t investors pressuring leadership to step down? Or implement some actual reform? Where’s the outrage from the same online activists who were furious about platforms like itch.io selling adult games?
If this were any other company like Meta or ByteDance, we’d see payment processors threatening to cut ties. So where are MasterCard and Visa now? Where’s that same energy when it’s a corporation with billions in profit, letting children fall through the cracks?
The Silence Is the Worst Part
What makes this all so maddening is the silence. For all the talk about “protecting kids online,” the outrage fades when it’s time to hold powerful companies accountable.
Roblox is not a niche site. It’s one of the most popular platforms in the world. One where most of its user base is under 16. This isn’t some hidden corner of the internet.
Yet, the people who say they care about digital safety keep looking the other way.
Something Has to Give
My fear is that something really bad will have to happen to force Roblox to actually take its predator problem seriously. The company swears it’s doing enough, but it’s clearly not.
These lawsuits aren’t coming out of nowhere. They’re the result of years of ignored warnings and children being put in harm’s way.
Maybe a miracle will happen, and Roblox will finally wake up before tragedy forces its hand. Given how long this problem has lasted, I doubt that’s happening any time soon.
