Is Roblox a safe space for kids or has it become a playground where predators thrive? That’s the question driving a growing wave of lawsuits against the gaming giant. Parents and state officials alike accuse the company of putting profits ahead of protections.
Two recent cases, one filed by Louisiana’s attorney general, the other by a mother in Michigan lay bare the disturbing claims. Together, they suggest Roblox’s safety crisis is no longer a mere concern but a growing problem.
Louisiana Takes Aim
In Louisiana, Attorney General Liz Murrill didn’t mince words. Her lawsuit accuses Roblox of being “overrun with harmful content and predators. ” She claims the company knowingly allowed inappropriate games to flourish on its platform.
The complaint cites titles like Escape to Epstein Island and other disturbing user-created games, alleging they contained sexually explicit material and references to child abuse. Murrill argues that Roblox’s weak age-verification system, which doesn’t require parents to confirm a child’s age, makes the platform an easy target for exploitation.
She demands a permanent injunction preventing Roblox from advertising itself as safe, along with penalties under Louisiana’s consumer protection laws.
Michigan Raises the Stakes
Days later, another lawsuit hit Roblox, this one from Michigan. A mother alleges her 10-year-old daughter was groomed and exploited through Roblox. The case, filed with the Dolman Law Group, echoes Louisiana’s claims. That Roblox knew predators were active on its platform, failed to act, and misled families with safety assurances.
This is not an isolated case. The same law firm has filed at least five similar suits. Others are emerging nationwide, pointing to what lawyers describe as a “systemic problem.” While Roblox recently rolled out age verification, critics argue the move comes years too late.
How Predators Exploit the Platform
Roblox is massive with tens of millions of games, all user-generated, with chat and social features baked in. That scale is part of the problem.
Predators pose as kids, using friendly avatars and playful role-playing games to gain trust. They exploit loopholes in moderation filters, trade gifts like Robux. They’ll also shift conversations into private chats or off-platform apps like Discord. The tactics are old, but they’re incredibly effective.
The lawsuits argue Roblox has the resources to shut this down but won’t risk slowing its growth. Safety features exist, yet they’ve often been optional, delayed, or buried under confusing settings.
Roblox’s Response
Roblox insists safety is its top priority. The company highlights 24/7 human moderation, advanced filtering, age-based chat restrictions, and collaboration with law enforcement. It also notes that most of its users are over 13, not children.
Critics say this response misses the point. The lawsuits are about Roblox’s failure to protect the children playing their game. For families who’ve already been harmed, no press release or safety update will undo the damage.
Roblox Faces a Safety Reckoning
Taken together, these lawsuits frame Roblox as a test case for how tech companies balance safety with profit. If the courts side with Louisiana, Michigan, and the parents lining up behind them, Roblox could be forced to overhaul its system from the ground up.
If not, parents will need to treat Roblox as a bustling city. Full of creativity, but also risks and danger hiding in every alleyway.
Roblox sits at a crossroads. It can continue insisting that moderation tools and parental controls are enough. Or it can face the reality that predators are adapting faster than its safeguards.
For parents, the lesson is don’t assume anything is “safe by design.” Stay alert, stay involved, and remember that digital playgrounds need real-world supervision.
